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Abolish the Monarchy

Why We Should and How We Will

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Abolish the Monarchy

By: Graham Smith
Narrated by: Sam Swann
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

It's wrong in principle and it doesn't work in practice. (And no, it's not good for tourism.) But it doesn't have to be this way.

They say Britain should be proud to have the mother of parliaments, a shining beacon of democracy and an example to other nations. But there's an elephant in the room.

At the heart of power is a single family. They weren't elected but they live off the public purse. They aren't accountable to anyone, and yet between them they are privy to more government secrets than many cabinet ministers. Divinely appointed using a special hat, the head of the family is your superior, you his subject. Apparently he is guardian of our constitution - but we're also told he wouldn't dream of interfering in politics.

If you accept the monarchy, you must accept the moral compromise that comes with it, from its erosion of the principle of equality to the secret interference in our laws. But the good news is that we don't have to accept it. True democracy is within our reach.

©2023 Graham Smith (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Politics & Government

Critic Reviews

A crucial, riveting polemic in support of one of the most precious things humanity has built - democracy itself. (Owen Jones, author of The Establishment)
If ever you thought tradition, tourism, or political stability were good arguments for the Crown, this razor-sharp book knocks that nonsense into a top hat. Erudite Graham Smith shows what fools our rotten constitution makes of us, with a monarch as emblem of a country beset by nepotism, backhanders, chumocracy and inherited privilege. Read and rebel! (Polly Toynbee, author of An Uneasy Inheritance)
This is a very timely reminder of the constitutional absurdity of our taxpayer-funded Royal Family that is at war with itself. Whether you're in favour of abolition or a more slimmed-down monarchy in keeping with modern Britain, Graham Smith puts the case for reform eloquently and forcefully. (Robert Verkaik, author of Posh Boys)

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Thought provoking book

As a former royalist who recently converted to republicanism this book expanded on and articulated many of my observations. Well written and researched plus a pleasure to listen to. Well done.

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