RONNIE Cowan, MP for Inverclyde, believes that Westminster and the royal family are not fit for purpose and should be modified or scrapped (Scotland must rid itself of this house of horrors, November 10).
I would hope that whatever becomes of Westminster does not concern anyone living in Scotland in the not too distant future. However, the question of whether or not to maintain a royal family in an independent Scotland is still pertinent at this time.
Like Mr Cowan, I would contend that the monarchy is incompatible with equality in a modern state. The existence of a royal family, with countless hangers-on, perpetuates class divisions in 21st-century society to the extent that these anachronistic divisions become socially accepted and even celebrated by some.
READ MORE: Ronnie Cowan: It's time to ditch the royals and turn Westminster into a tourist attraction
With the economic uncertainties and constitutional disorientation fuelled by Brexit, together with the re-emergence of a pugnacious and reckless form of English nationalism, it is clear that an unthinking acceptance of, or deference to, the institution of the monarchy should no longer be tolerated in an independent Scotland. I struggle to find any argument in favour of retaining the monarchy and believe that the royal family would be an embarrassing and expensive burden to Scottish taxpayers.
Our present-day monarchy masquerades as historical tradition but in truth is a business enterprise. Figures released by Buckingham Palace last year inform us that the price of having a monarchy rose by approximately 44%, meaning that £67 million was lavished on private jets, trains, trips abroad, refurbishment of ostentatious homes and palaces and on literally thousands of camp followers.
READ MORE: Alister Jack stuns MPs as he 'forgets' answer at Scottish Questions
The present Conservative government, who have carried out the worst case of self-harm in British history by plunging us into the Brexit morass, are largely a product of Oxbridge privilege and birthright entitlement that is enabled by the very existence of a royal family and institutionalised inequality. An independent Scotland must shake the dust from its feet and remember that monarchy murders meritocracy.
At a time when countries are faced with economic recession due to the pandemic and funding for health and education falls short, when homelessness and material privation abound and food banks proliferate, the monarchy is an immoral, injudicious and scandalous waste of time and money.
Ronnie Cowan is correct, in an independent Scotland they should be retired and consigned to the dustbin of history.
Owen Kelly
Stirling
RONNIE Cowan MP makes some very valid points regarding the archaic political institutions of the UK. Of course there is no place in any democracy for a royal family which has so much power or for an unelected House of Lords stuffed full of political lackeys.
I think it was Mhairi Black who said Westminster has to make up its mind on whether it’s a functioning parliament or a museum. It’s clearly a museum. Similarly the royal family should be seen as a museum piece – there is no place for such privilege in any democracy. Similarly the baubles presented onto their hanger-ons, usually awarded to civil servants for simply doing their job.
I fear the UK is beyond reform and there is no hope of us ever seeing the royal family claiming Universal Credit! However, we do have an option in Scotland. We can choose to have a fully functioning parliament in Edinburgh and we can ditch the House of Lords as well as the honours system, and who knows, even ditch the royal family itself. But that will only come with independence. We can choose to be a modern, forward-thinking democracy by choosing independence or we can stay stuck in the past by remaining in the UK.
Cllr Kenny MacLaren
Paisley
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