News from the Centre for Citizenship
-
New Blow to Spanish Monarchy
King Bourbon Accused of Supporting Military Plot A new book by Pilar Urbano accuses Juan Bourbon, the Spanish monarch, of supporting an effort by military officers to remove the country’s elected government in 1981. Bourbon also applied personal pressure to get the PM to stand down, according to the journalist and popular historian. Most other…
-
Crack in TV Licence Defence
An internal BBC review has proposed that the TV licence fee be replaced by a “membership fee” if funding negotiations with the government do not go as the state media giant wishes. The review was led by the Corporation’s head of strategy, who has now left the BBC. There is no precedent for the BBC…
-
Abbott Brings Back Feudal Titles
Monarchist Australian Prime Minister is bringing back feudal titles after 28 years in which that country has been free of them. But republicans believe that this will increase support for an Australian republic. The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) says support has grown since Abbot swore allegiance to British queen Windsor when he became prime minister.…
-
Defeat for Monarchist Cover-Up
Court Quashes “Unlawful” Attempt to Fool British People The Appeal Court has quashed as unlawful a government attempt at an extraordinarily blatant attempt to fool the British people. The government has responded to the court ruling by stating that it will ask the Supreme Court to uphold its wish to pull wool over our eyes.…
-
Lipstick on the Pig
TV Watching Without Permission May Become Civil, Not Criminal The government is considering proposals that non-payment of the TV licence fee should be made a civil wrong instead of a criminal offence. Citizens would still be forbidden from watching TV without state permission. And they would still be required by law to pay for the…
-
Fooling the People As Much As You Can
Government Lawyers Ask Appeal Court to Hush Up Windsor Letters Scandal It may not be possible to fool all of the people all of the time. But the British government thinks it can fool most of the people for much of the time. In an unusually frank attempt to do so government lawyers told the…
-
Government Hush Up to Protect Monarchy
Guardian Appeals Against Gove Veto The Guardian newspaper has asked the Court of Appeal to overturn High Court endorsement of a government information freedom veto. The veto was intended to hide Windsor family interference in democratic government and prolong monarchy in Britain. Attorney-General Dominic Grieve vetoed a freedom of information tribunal decision that letters from…
-
Day of Anguish and Humiliation for Bourbons
The Spanish Bourbon family had a “day of anguish and humiliation” when the daughter of Spain’s king was questioned in court last Friday, according to the Financial Times. The Bourbons were once considered untouchable. But Christina Bourbon is now a suspect in a case of alleged embezzlement of public funds by her husband. The privileges…
-
Bourbon Revelations Show Extent of Windsor Trick
Spanish Family Paid Less Than Bankers The extraordinary financial support given to Britain’s Windsor family has been given new emphasis by the publication of figures for the income of the Spanish Bourbons. The Spanish family has felt obliged to be more open in order to counter falling support for its privileges Carlos Bourbon takes a…
-
Republicans Undaunted By Poor Poll Result
Change in Monarch May Change Views Australian republicans are reported to be unsurprised by a recent poll that shows support for Britain’s feudal family at just over two percentage points above support for an Australian republic. Former deputy PM Wayne Swan said that that poll should inspire republicans to “redouble efforts”. Geoff Gallop, who chairs…