Scottish Greens call for republic: Monarchy is increasingly ridiculous and unjustified
The UK Monarchy is an increasingly ridiculous, costly and unjustified institution, says Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie, who has long called for an independent Scotland to be a republic.
Mr Harvie’s comments follow a report by Republic, an anti-monarchy campaign group, which puts the “true cost” of the Monarchy at over £500m a year.
Mr Harvie said: “The Monarchy is an increasingly ridiculous and unjustified institution. It represents a different and long gone era, and it is impossible to justify the eye watering sums that we spend on it.
“Lavishing any family with huge privilege, power and wealth as a birthright is a fundamentally undemocratic idea, and it is particularly distasteful during a cost of living crisis which is seeing scandalous levels of child poverty, and pensioners across our country forced to choose between feeding themselves and heating their home.
“We should always be able to elect or remove our rulers and heads of state at the ballot box. That is a key part of any democracy. If any of the Windsors want to represent the country then they should stand for election.
“The Scotland I want to see is an independent republic where power rests with the people rather than being treated like a family heirloom.”
