News from the Centre for Citizenship

The British Broadcasting Corp. has confirmed that its former director general, Greg Dyke, was paid £800,000 in 2003. Mr. Dyke left BBC, which is financed by a levy on all TV viewers, after the Hutton enquiry’s criticisms of the media giant.

The House of Commons Public Administration Committee has recommended that no more knighthoods be awarded. Under Britain’s feudal system knights expect to be deferred to as “Sir” or “Dame.” The committee said that these titles are “redolent of past preoccupations with rank and class.” They would be replaced with the title “Companion of Honour.” If…

The unelected legislators in the House of Lords have voted 240 to 208 to reject a government proposal to abolish the position of Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor is a government minister who is also head of the judiciary. The so-called Lords objected to the replacement of the feudal office with democratic arrangements that would…

The assets of the Church of England increased in value by £430m to a total of £3.9bn last year. This followed three years of poor results for the state church. The Church Commissioners, who include the prime minister and the minister for sport, reported the figures. The Commissioners are accountable to parliament.

Multi-millionaire former director-general of the state broadcasting corporation Greg Dyke was paid £450,000 when he resigned following criticisms of editorial weaknesses by the Hutton enquiry, it has been revealed. This severance package will be paid for by TV viewers who are obliged to pay the BBC for permission to watch commercial channels.

The ability of legislators in the House of Lords to delay or bar legislation agreed by elected legislators may be restricted after the next general election, according to report in the Financial Times. Valerie Amos, Leader of the House of Lords, told the newspaper that the government had not decided whether the curbs should be…

The Prime Minister of Tuvalu, the former British colony in the Pacific, has announced that the country is to consider becoming a republic, removing the British queen Elizabeth Windsor as its head of state. The 11, 000 people of Tuvalu will first be consulted on whether a referendum should be held to decide whether to…

An election is underway to fill a vacant seat in Britain’s legislature. The only citizens allowed to vote in the House of Lords election are Conservative legislators-for-life. The only citizens permitted to stand for election are hereditary “Lords.” Under current law the winning candidate will be a legislator until she or he dies.

Multimillionaire Irvine Laidlaw has agreed to end his tax exile of 22 years and live in Britain in return for a life seat in the legislature, according to the Financial Times. In a statement to the newspaper he said that he “would not have become a resident if it were not for the” legislative appointment.…

Michael Grade, who chairs state lottery operator Camelot, is to be the new head of the BBC. Mr. Grade will chair the state media giant’s board of governors. State lotteries have been described as “a tax on the poor.” Mr. Grade is likely to feel at home, therefore, in a business that targets unemployed single…