http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014 ... privileges

Going by that list, quite right too.

wrong, wrong, wrong ...
doing this will open a path to a presidency
curtailing the Royal family in this way will open up a 'new' avenue of control for the Muppet's of Parliament ...

That makes sense. There is clearly a direct line of causation between stripping the Duke of Cornwall of the right to claim the estates of those who die without heirs in his medieval fiefdom, and inevitable fascist presidency.

yep, the end of the Royal charter between Parliament and the Royal family ...

Good.

It's high time we plebs got a say in who was our head of state, instead of relying on a feudal system better suited to the Dark Ages.

I couldn't disagree more.

Having seen the astounding stupidity of the UK electorate - with idiotic phrases such as "Brown was never elected Prime Minister" and "Nobody voted for this coalition" - I wouldn't let the proles have any more say than they already do, frankly.

I understand your scepticism, but remember you get a chance to vote the b*gger out again later. We don't get that option with a monarchy - first born or nothing.

I don't get any chance to vote the b*gger out at all - we as a collective do that. You may detect that I have absolutely no faith in the collective.

I'm starting to think that the right to vote should be subject to a test, with questions such as "Name three present or former Speakers of the House of Commons" or "Name the Prime Minister before Margaret Thatcher". At least then we might weedle out some of the tossers who borrow their opinions from the red-tops.

Any reader of a red-top knows the name Winston Churchill. He won the war, you know.

In some ways, I reckon the Monarchy would do a far better job than the "elected" of running the country. I agree that there are a lot of "brain-dead idiots" who have a say in the running of the country and they seem to outnumber the intelligent lot, but we should tackle this through education rather than taking away their right to vote. I'd rather there was legislation against media-spin and scaremongering eg a fine for any newspaper involved in the MMR scandal - which has caused numerous problems and is likely the reason why measles is more prevalent than before the scandal.

I wouldn't disagree with your sentiment but it is actually a fact that nobody voted for the coalition and people very rarely get the chance to vote for them, they tend of vote for parties that become part of coalitions. Coalitions, let's be honest, are generally the solution that is simply the best of a bad bunch..

Yes, restrict the rights of people you deem unworthy of such rights.

Nothing dangerous there.

The problem with an elected head of state is that they will want to start throwing their power around

At the moment all bills need to the Royal Consent to become law. If one assumes that the new “President” will amongst other things take over that role then (s)he would be a lot more likely to exercise that power. After all if the President is elected in the middle of any parliament then he could rightly say I Have a better mandate than you and will not pass X legislation

They will also want their own staff / office etc and will quickly costs much more than the Monarchy (assume one does not get rid of the Queen but just removes her powers)

Overall a bad idea IMHO

Remembering that. Charles I was ousted by non democratic means. Shame a miserable Puritan took over. If he hadn't banned Christmas, we may still be a republic.

Actually, unless you live in a marginal seat, your vote has little chance of making any difference at all. I live in a Tory safe seat. No party makes much of an effort here - the Tories assume they'll win. Labour field useless candidtates, and the LibDems do what the LibDems do best - agree with whoever seems to be winning in the polls.

Basically, a non-Tory vote in Chelmsford is a wasted vote. I do vote, but I have to ask myself - what's the point?

Nobody votes for any type of government - we vote for who we want to be our MP.


Really?

Germany doesn't seem to be doing too badly...