Sunday 25 September 2022 02:41 AM Labour republicans say Britain faces a 'future with a white privileged male' as ... trends now
Dozens of people, including an MP, gathered at a Labour Party pressure group last night who warned against a future with a ‘white, privilege male’ as head of state.
The discussion, labelled the ‘naughtiest’ fringe event at the Labour Conference in Liverpool this week, heard the case for a British republic, just weeks after the Queen’s death.
Guests, including Labour MP Richard Burgon, listened as the hosts argued that power by ‘accident of birth’ is ‘incompatible’ with the Labour Party’s democratic values.
Panelists leading the debate included author Paul Richards, Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee and Dr Adam Tucker, a specialist in constitutional law at the University of Liverpool.
The discussion mainly focused on the future of the monarchy in the wake of the Queen's death, a topic which has been polarising the party, with some dissent possible during a rendition of God Save The King at the conference on Sunday.
Labour MP Richard Burgon, member of Labour's left-wing Socialist Campaign Group, was one of the member's who attended the fringe event
Mr Richards drew a laugh from the audience as he opened his own address by welcoming them to ‘naughtiest fringe meeting’ of the conference.
Mr Burgon, a member of Labour’s Left-wing Socialist Campaign Group, hit back at criticisms earlier this week that it was ‘terribly inappropriate’ to discuss at the conference whether the monarchy should be abolished in the wake of the Queen’s passing.
He said: ‘In 1993 the law was changed so that the monarch wouldn't pay inheritance tax on private assets... as opposed to state assets - so private assets.
‘I think these are still legitimate matters of inquiry. And people who respect the Queen's service... can still hold these views. It's not an insult to anybody. It's a legitimate discussion in a democratic society.’
A leaflet provided at the event warned that Britain faces a future with a ‘white, privileged male’ as head of state at least until the end of the century
It comes a day after former Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn condemned current Labour leader Keir Starmer's plans for the for the party to sing the national anthem at its annual conference.
Mr Corbyn said the plan for party members to sing God Save The King at the conference in Liverpool was 'very, very odd'.
The former Labour Party leader suggested singing the anthem was 'excessively nationalist'.
Keir Starmer and party bosses took the decision for the national anthem to be sung at the Labour conference for the first time in its history following the death of the Queen earlier this month and the accession of King Charles III to the throne.
Ms Toynbee told the event that she would have liked
