‘Campaign Against Royal Secrecy’ launched in Britain

WEEKEND polling in Scotland puts the British monarchy in the spotlight and it now appears most ‘Yes’ voters don’t want the queen as head of state in an independent Scotland, according to a new poll by YouGov.

The poll found that 46% of supporters of separation now believe that an independent Scotland should break its links with the British royal family.

The London Times says that the poll came as the monarch risked being drawn into the referendum campaign amid reports there was a “great deal of concern” among the royal family at the prospect of a win for the ‘Yes’ side.

At the weekend, the 'Yes'' side edged ahead (51% to 49%) of the pro-Union campaign for the first time with just over a week till the referendum on whether Scotland should be an independent country takes place on Thursday 18 September.

Now the London-based campaign group ‘Republic’ is adding to the British royal family’s woes by launching the ‘Campaign Against Royal Secrecy’.

‘Republic’ – which campaigns for Britain’s monarchy to be abolished and the queen replaced with an elected, democratic head of state – says:

“Secrecy is the key to the monarchy's survival – if we all knew what the royals were up to behind closed doors, support would start to fall away.

“That's one reason why Republic is campaigning for an end to royal secrecy.”

In the autumn, the Guardian newspaper will be returning to court to continue their fight to access letters sent by Prince Charles to Government ministers.  The Government continues to resist every court decision that has been made in the Guardian’s favour, Republic points out.

Now Republic is asking people to visit writetothem.org and send an email to their MP. 

“In your email, mention that you support Republic and that you believe the public has a right to know if Charles is trying to influence Government decisions,” the campaign group says.

It wants MPs to support “three simple demands”:-

1️⃣  Full inclusion of the monarchy within the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), so that the royal household is legally obliged to respond to information requests;

2️⃣  Repeal of existing exemptions from the FOIA that allow communications between other Government bodies and the royals to be kept secret;

3️⃣  Full disclosure of royal lobbying and influence, including disclosure of meetings between royals and ministers.

Republic also wants supporters to ask their MP to write to Justice Secretary Chris Grayling and Attorney General Jeremy Wright, calling on them to review freedom of information laws, allow the release of Prince Charles’s letters and to agree to these three demands.

“A common response is that secrecy is needed to protect royal neutrality, to allow us to go on believing the royals are above politics,” Republic says. “It's also claimed that Charles and the Queen have the right to discuss matters of state with ministers.

“It’s worth pointing out that secrecy ensures we have no idea whether the royals are being impartial or not, or whether or not they are interfering in politics.

“If the royals are above politics, let them prove it.  If they have nothing to hide, let the people know that their government isn’t being lobbied in secret by the royals.”