Almost non-stop the BBC and the press falls on its knees to worship the royals (Is it OK to diss the Queen?
Try me, Comment, March 25). More than 20% of the population want a republic but their views are ignored. So thanks to Ian Bell for his incisive criticisms of the unelected monarchy. The monarchy undermines democracy, reinforces inequality and promotes the cult of celebrity. Unlike the SNP, the Scottish Labour Party should have the guts to call for a republic. After all, its main founder, Keir Hardie, never stopped doing so – and the Labour vote continued to grow. By the way, Keir Hardie was Scottish.
Bob Holman
Glasgow
Ian Bell's wonderful column should be compulsory reading in all schools. There seems to be a conspiracy of silence, in this "jubilee" year, concerning the expense of the various festivities. Small schoolchildren are in some cases subject to indoctrination and participation in commemorative events. They should instead be taught that there are other, democratic, ways to elect a head of state and to consider whether it is right and appropriate for one (unelected) family to have access to this office, a guaranteed source of wealth, seven homes and all the other perks mentioned by Ian. If we had an elected term-limited president, no-one would be in office long enough to celebrate a jubilee.
Andrew McCrae
Gourock
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