Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Labour MP warns against ‘white, privileged male’ as Britain’s head of state for another 100 years

At a fringe event ahead of Labour's annual conference, Richard Burgon says it is ridiculous that MPs swear an oath to the new monarch.

Labour MP warns against ‘white, privileged male’ as Britain’s head of state for another 100 years

A Labour MP has warned against a “white, privileged male” as Britain’s head of state for the next century as dozens of ‘woke’ republicans pitched for the abolition of the monarchy.

At a fringe event organised by the pressure group Labour for a Republic ahead of the opposition party’s annual conference in Liverpool, Richard Burgon said it was “ridiculous” that MPs swore an oath to the new monarch.

“How can we not talk about whether or not a head of state should be elected?” the MP for Leeds East said as he welcomed the discussion on the future of the monarchy.

“We respect all views but it’s a really important discussion,” Burgon, a member of the left-wing Socialist Campaign Group, said and added, “I’m really glad this is taking place.”

Leaflets handed out to the attendees of the event urged Labour to “lead on this issue” of abolishing the Royal family, The Telegraph reported.

“With the late Queen’s reign now ended, Britain faces a future with a white, privileged male as head of state for the remainder of this century — at least,” the flyers said.

“There’s little doubt that this will only accelerate calls for an end to the monarchy,” they said.

According to the flyers, “Under a republican constitution, citizens, collectively, would be sovereign, with a head of state elected on merit and with responsibility for protecting our constitution.”

The Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee, who was among some 60 people present at the event, said she had wanted the Queen to be Elizabeth “the last”.

“There was no nanosecond between [the Queen] drawing her last breath and the crown being placed on her son’s head the next instant,” Toynbee said, referring to Charles III taking over the reign immediately after Elizabeth's death.

“There never is a perfect time” to talk about the monarchy and the country, she said, arguing for a ceremonial president for Britain.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less