As regular readers of this blog will know, I have strong republican sympathies. I most recently made that clear in the aftermath of the Jubilee weekend. But I have said so previously. In fact, it was a blog I wrote in February that drew this position of mine to the attention of the Moral Maze team at BBC Radio 4. As a consequence I will be taking part in that programme tonight at 8pm, discussing this issue.
The programme is live (subject, I suspect to a very short delay) so quite what opportunity I get to develop my arguments against a panel of four, three of whom I doubt will be sympathetic to my cause, I do not know. But at the very least it will be an interesting evening out, but not a novelty. I have done the show at least twice before, the most recent being in 2012.
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Hope it goes well Richard. We need public debate on these constitutional issues if the UK is ever to get into the 21st century.
I have to say I stopped listening to the MM quite a while ago, found it too shouty and repeating tired old talking points. But I might try to catch this episode to see how you fare!
Thanks
Good, I shall, for once, make a point of listening the MM rather than just stumbling across it. I look forward to your contribution, which will probably be better than the replies from the panel.
I hope so…..
Good luck with it – not one of my favourite programmes on R4. It’s become a mouthpiece for dogma.
Here is an issue the programme should tackle.
Did anyone listening to R4 last night hear the announcement by the director of the environment agency that some parts of our coastline are going to be abandoned and left to the rising sea levels?
It was an announcement made above the cacophony of Johnson’s latest escape act but I know what I heard.
That basically there was no money to help – the time would come when it would not make any difference.
Personally I was mortified by this – I mean there we are – so the seas are rising and rather than climate change it is ‘global warming’ writ raw.
So, rather then curb car use, air travel and attack the problem constructively we are going to let the sea’s rise and just hope it’s not us who have to abandon where we live to the sea.
My verdict: Pathetic.
Good luck. When I wandered through our local jubilee gathering in the park it was clearly much more about people enjoying each other rather than about the monarchy. Could you mention the idea of an annual national day of celebration which didn’t need royal permission such as a ‘Thank You Day’ that some have suggested? It may help to give people confidence they can organise a national institution without needing the sheltering penumbra of the monarchy.
(Not really relevant – have played cricket with the chairman of MM).
It would be good, if there is time….
Coincidentally I have been reading “The Book of Trespass” by Nick Hayes.
Its an extremely lucid account of where all these ideas of terra nullis, original possession, property rights, the role of the barons , the clearances of common land , slavery , empire and imperialism come from.
And the role of royalty, aristocracy and their hangers on in perpetuating the sorry tale.
I highly recommend it.
Not to Richard however as he has obviously read it.
I have skimmed it….and discussed it with my wife who has read it
All the best, Richard. I hope you get a chance to speak and develop your position without getting interrupted umpteen times.
I suspect I will be interrupted many times….
It’s a no-brainer, the monarchy is an outdated relic of feudal privilege and a supporter of past colonial and imperial domination and exploitation. It is a costly diversion and encourages obsequious behavior from the people and the belief in the unjust hierarchy of the social order. You should be able to wipe the floor with the other 3 reactionaries on the Moral Maze panel.
It might be worth raising the issue about the effect that being born into the Royal Family has on its members, Harry being the obvious example and possibly Andrew as well.
I feel sorry for Prince George whose life is mapped out before him
That is one of the points I do intend to raise
Thanks for that, Richard. I had the radio in the background and your argument and energy made my ears prick-up. Thanks for expressing an alternative so eloquently and concisely. It must be difficult to swim against such a strong tide, but you more than held your own. All the best.
Thanks
I admit I enjoyed myself but would have loved a little more time
Great contribution Richard. Managed the wacky Giles Frazer very well.
Thank you
He was very odd
And shouty! But good performance on your part Richard.
Thanks
you talk way too fast..its not composed
I did it talk way too fast
The Moral Maze is nit composed, that is the point
Will sed!
I thought your answers seemed remarkably composed given the unpredictability. You made subtle points well and struck down the rhetorical points beautifully. Your final rhetort was neat (though I can’t even remember what it was about!).
The suggestion made to me was that if we were a republic we might be a bit more like everyone else as if that was a bad thing
I suggested the exact opposite in a way that certainly amused those in the room
I admit I thought Tim Stanley and Giles Fraser were not great interviewers
Sorry I missed it!
But although I share your ‘strong republican sympathies’, I wonder whether you would favour this bright idea of mine: as we are stuck with a monarchy, maybe we need a stronger one!
I am thinking, for example, of someone who would have taken legal advice and refused to sign Johnson’s illegal prorogation of parliament (and maybe the forthcoming breaking of international law over the Northern Ireland protocol.
Colin
No, because that remains eugenic
Point taken!
For the long term of course I agree, but when in one’s 80s any short-term improvement seems desirable. However, it might be risky as you would no doubt wish to point out!
Just listened to this on iPlayer catchup. You did really well.
I find it very frustrating discussing the monarchy with dyed in the wool royalists. I have found one quite useful argument when royalists raise the spurious vision of someone like President Boris Johnson. The last time I heard this from an acquaintance, it was President Cherie Blair for some unfathomable reason. My answer was that if we had the choice of an elected head of state, then the Queen could stand for election, and I might even vote for her. They haven’t got a good response to that one yet.
And regarding your quest for a national treasure, David Attenborough often comes up as an alternative.
This organisation works towards a republican UK and I support it unreservedly:
https://www.republic.org.uk/
Thanks
I might be joining that