Abolish the Monarchy: Why we should and how we will

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The jubilee is not a national celebration, it is a carefully staged event to promote the monarchy and the royal brand.” However, the same poll found that just 9% thought he was doing a bad job, a fall of five percentage points from the previous month.

Graham Smith: There are three very simple reasons. The first one is a matter of principle. The [royal family] is fairly undemocratic and we're supposed to be a democratic society. It's not a principled institution we ought to be supporting in 2019. monarchy represents the unelected rule of the disproportionately privileged over those who suffer due to economic inequality. plus the ones we have in particular are petulant and refuse to hold accountability or show integrity in their elevated positions Abolish the Monarchy: Why we should and how we will does exactly what it says on the tin: delivers an invigorating polemic on why the British monarchy can and should be done away with. It covers the same topic as The Enchanted Glass: Britain and its Monarchy but with an utterly different tone and style. While Nairn's book is dense, academic, and fatalistic (still great though), Smith's is accessible, journalistic, and optimistic. I think it oversimplifies a bit for effect, especially when discussing constitutional reform, but is nonetheless a very good read.What terrible disruption did these nefarious republicans have in mind? Were they planning to plant bombs in letterboxes? Were they going to throw paint at the King’s golden carriage? No. They were there to hold up some placards in protest against the institution of monarchy. They liaised with the Met for months before the coronation and, so far as we know, had no plans to do anything seriously disruptive, let alone illegal.

Smith insists there is no need to worry about the UK getting its own President Trump. Republic is in favour of an elected President who still has few powers – like the King now – but can intervene more effectively when required. Broad support for the monarchy is not the same as deep support, he says. “I wouldn’t automatically assume this is entrenched opinion, although there is an awful lot of history behind it… There could be very widespread support but it may be an inch deep.” The royals are patrons of dozens of nonprofits and they regularly speak at charity events. What impact would getting rid of the monarchy have? I was startled awake with the familiar story of the forced evacuation of the Chagos Islands not requiring any reference for an overview from Parliament and how the process is available to be repeated. And possibly has been because these need not be reported. The most significant result of the survey may be the 32% who seemed to be indifferent towards the monarch, saying he was doing a ‘neither good nor bad’ job.GS: Our big focus really is on the institution and its failings. We want to challenge a lot of the misconceptions and myths around it. And challenge the individuals—particularly Prince Charles, who's going to be king sometime in the next decade or so, and who clearly is not fit for the role. The launch will include a Q&A session and drinks afterwards, as well as a chance to get your copy signed by Graham.