Does Britain need a Monarchy?

Question

I live In Northern Ireland and in no way shape or form feel the queen represents me.

In the South of Ireland like many other Republics they elect a president as the country’s figure head every 7 years (different to the president).

Can I be so bold to ask what gives one family the right to be the perpetual figure heads of Britain? Why not put it to the vote?

Answer 1

Because you don't get to vote for Queen.

The British Isles would be an also-ran on the woprld stage without the Queen.

She more than pays for herself in the tourism dollars, power and prestige she brings to the UK.

Answer 2

Well, England does not need a queen.

However, it's a firmly rooted tradition to have a monarchy, and it's really become a part of England. Taking it away would be a bad thing to do.

Kings and Queens are nice to parade around, show off towards other countries, and to cut ribbons. They're special, and while they may cost a lot, they're generally more popular than the normal politicians, anyway.

Answer 3

Does Britain need the monarchy?No but,more so than it needs you.If there was to be a referendum,the vote would be overwhelmingly in favour of it.One can see that by the answers given in this category.There are just a few crackpot contributors that attack the monarchy,which,of course,is unable to defend itself,especially the dead ones.In many of the Republics,that are in place around the world,they would not be allowed to show that degree of dissent.With all of it's faults,it is still a better system than in many places.If it aint broke,don't fix it.

Answer 4

If it ever is put to the vote, then I hope we keep the monarchy.

I would much rather have the Queen than some complete nonentity of a president.  Besides, it would mean yet more tiresome elections, and we have enough of those as it is.

furthermore, the Queen is a lot cheaper than a President.  She costs the British taxpayer only 66p a year per head.  The President of Italy, for instance, costs £1.24 a head a year, almost twice as much.  And who knows who the President of italy is?  Everyone in the world knows who the Queen is  I hope by the time people like you are in the majority I will be dead.

Answer 5

In practice, the Queen rules at the pleasure of her subjects. If her popularity ever dropped, the MPs would move to get rid of her, but that won't happen. The Queen as an average approval rating of 75%, most politicians would kill to have ratings that high. Also, the monarchy is a lot cheaper than a republic would be. 66p per person per year is a bargain. For that we get a link to a thousand years of history and a unifying national figure most countries are envious of.

There is, of course, an argument than the monarchy is undemocratic, but if there was a referendum on whether to keep the monarchy or not, the Queen would win easily. I have never heard a British republican call for such a referendum, they just want parliament to abolish the monarchy.

Having a non-political head of state can be very useful. For example, if a tyrannical Prime Minister even managed to get to power, the monarch would be the only one who could remove such a PM and call an election. This is what happened in Thailand after the 1981 coup, when the King stepped in to restore democracy. In a sense, the UK's unelected head of state is democracy's last line of defence.