A campaign of Suffragette-style direct action to secure an elected Head of State.
Manchester – 25 November 2004 – 7pm, Republic Café, at the Café Muse, Oxford Street, Manchester
Manchester – 25 November 2004 – 7pm, Republic Café, at the Café Muse, Oxford Street, Manchester
“Monarchy is incompatible with democracy”, human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, told tonight’s public forum at the new Republic Café in Manchester.
“A campaign of Suffragette-style direct action protests is needed to create political momentum for the abolition of the Monarchy.
“Royalty is a relic of feudalism and has no place in a modern, twenty-first century nation. I am backing Republic, the campaign for an elected Head of State.”
“The Monarchy is a dead weight on the aspirations of this country. It is time we consigned them to where Kings and Queens belong – history. Café Muse is part of Manchester Museum. That is where Royalty should be put, in a museum,” said Tatchell.
Congratulating the Republic North-West team who initiated the Café Republic forums, Tatchell went on to say:
“This event shows Manchester at its radical best, spearheading the national campaign to remove our outdated monarchy and replace it with an elected and accountable Head of State.
“To put the campaign for a republic on the political agenda, the time has come for protests outside Buckingham Palace, promoting three themes to highlight Royal privilege:
* THE QUEEN SHOULD PAY INHERITANCE TAX
“The Queen is one of the richest people in the world. Why is she exempt from paying inheritance tax? The Queen should pay tax like everyone else.
* ABOLISH ENTRY CHARGES TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE
“Buckingham Palace and its national treasures belong to the public. Why should the public pay to see what belongs to them?
* OPEN THE ROYAL ART COLLECTION TO THE PUBLIC
“Only a small fraction of the Royal art collection is on display. Why? Paintings currently in storage should be loaned to galleries around Britain and put on public view.
DEMOCRACY Versus MONARCHY – The Right To Protest
“These protests would have a secondary benefit,” added Tatchell.
“They would help draw public attention to another aspect of royal privilege: the right to protest does not exist outside Buckingham Palace.
“This is an classic example of the conflict between monarchy and democracy.
“Protests at the Palace are traditionally declared illegal. Freedom of speech and the right to protest are deemed, by the police, to not apply.
“No matter how peaceful and dignified, demonstrations are prohibited outside Buckingham Palace – the only public place in Britain where such a universal prohibition applies.
“The legality of this restriction is doubtful, but on past experience the police invariably interpret the law to enforce a blanket ban on all protests.
“The suppression of Republic’s protest outside Buckingham Palace would work in our favour; highlighting the privileged, anti-democratic nature of the monarchy,” said Tatchell.
Phil Clifford, Republic North West Director, based in Manchester, said:
“A person of Peter’s standing as our first guest is a massive boost for the campaign to achieve a more representative system of government in this country. His knowledge and background of direct action is second to none.”
Mr Clifford went on to say: “The idea behind the café is that people with similar views on the monarchy can get to together in a friendly setting to meet people like-minded people, discuss, listen to quest speakers and get involved at whatever level they want to. It will be a stimulating place to be – just like Britain beyond the monarchy.
“How can call ourselves a democratic country when our Head of State inherited the position from her father?
“The monarchy hangs on to its present privileged position by having an army of spin-doctors peddling the same old myths and bare faced lies.
“Myths such as the monarchy is value for money and costs each person a mere 61p a day, a claim unchallenged in the media. The reality is that the cost is closer to £2000 a year for every family in the country”
“Myths such as they have no power, when in reality they retain massive power.
“Myths such as they safeguard the interests of ordinary people when in reality they regard us a members of an inferior gene pool possessing limited natural abilities.
“Myths such as they are good for Tourism when it has been shown that the opposite is true. Four times as many tourists travel to Versaille as Buckingham Palace each year and 88% of American tourists say the monarchy had no influence on their decision to travel to Britain,” said Mr Clifford.
More info: www.republic.org.uk