Month: May 2005
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Greatest Force for Cultural Good Spurs Vandalism
The BBC state broadcasting giant, which has styled itself “the greatest force for cultural good on the face of the earth”, is spending public money glorifying graffiti vandalism. Its Web site is publishing a cartoon called Taggerz (a reference to the vandal’s practice of spraying their personal “tag” on private and public property) about a…
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Australians Banishing Feudal Symbols
The removal of monarchical symbols from Australian public life is picking up speed. In April the New South Wales (NSW) legislative assembly agreed an amendment to the state consitution that would replace the pledge of loyalty to queen Windsor taken by ministers and MPs with a pledge to Australia and the people of NSW. The…
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Republicans Welcome Oaths Reform As Step To Republic
Republicans See Oaths Reform As Step To Republic New Zealand republicans have welcomed the Oaths Modernisation Bill, which will require new citizens and legislators to swear or affirm loyalty to New Zealand and to its democracy, rights and freedoms as well as to Elizabeth Windsor, Britain’s hereditary head of state. The Republicans Movement of Aotearoa…
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Twenty-seven New Legislators-for-Life
Prime Minister Tony Blair has appointed 27 new legislators-for-life to sit in the House of Lords. Sixteen of the new legislators are labour party members, giving that party its first majority in the second chamber. A number of the new legislators are former MPs who chose not to stand for election by the people this…
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Tories Protest Against Democratic Reforms
The conservative party has protested against government plans to reform the House of Lords. Party spokesman Oliver Head said that reform of the unelected legislative chamber would marginalize what he described as “the only chamber of parliament these days that is able to stand up to” the prime minister. If government proposals are agreed it…