48 Members of the Scottish Parliament defy Queen's summons.

[Peter Dow]

The Scotsman: Snub for Queen as 48 MSPs miss her speech.

From Scottish Republican News -

The fanfare which heralded the Queen's entrance to the Scottish Parliament rang hollow as 48 Members of the Scottish Parliament stayed away. 1st July 2009.

The 10th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament reconvening in 1999 was marked by an event at Holyrood to which Queen Elizabeth was invited and more importantly for the cause of the democratic right of the Scottish people to elect our own head of state, there appears to have been a partly organised, partly spontaneous boycott, snub or mass stay-away by 48 Members of the Scottish Parliament in total being absent from the occasion of the Queen's address to parliament on 1st July 2009.

48 out of the 129 MSPS, 37% of MSPs - which under some republican constitutions would be enough to defend an elected president in office where a 2/3 majority of parliament was required under the constitution to remove an impeached president - did not attend on the Queen to attempt to surrender the sovereignty of the Scottish nation to Queen Elizabeth, did not sit there as traitors while the rights of the people of Scotland were defied by Elizabeth Windsor, imposed on us Scots as head of state.

So it was an encouraging day for Scottish republicans and to mark the event, I have called the Scottish Republican Roll of Honour 2009.

I require further information to complete the roll in detail which I intend to write to MSPs to seek - in particular, which members who did not attend are republicans, and which are not.

http://scot.extroverthost.com/MSPs20...ne_grahame.jpg
I'm a republican, plain and simple as that. I had no intention of being there and I made my position clear before the event. I don't want to be seen as a hypocrite because I don't believe in the aristocracy running our country.

[Patrioticman]

These people who did not attend showed they are not fit to be in any form of power.
They have insulted the brave men and women who fought any many lost there lives for this country to enjoy the feedom we have today.
This shows also the utter contempt for the people of this country and I suspect only a small pecentage of the people that gave them votes would not be anti crown.
They disgust me and many others who are patriots to our great country.

[Patrioticman]

This raises a serious point
The undertones of the intentions of the SNP.
Do we want a republic as there are two choices of being a republic.

First the USA example where only the very rich can get into a power situation and the ordinary man in the street as no way way of being a politician.

Second
A republic where we are told what to by dictators or even a more controlled state than we could ever imagine.

Just think about it?

[Patrioticman]

Just looked at what your site and what you believe
You glady take money from loyal subjects and insult us all.
The majority are loyal subjects
If you do not like it you are free to go to another country with a nice dictarship and live by the gun and enjoy poverty
We do not want that
Bear in mind that our royal family are held in great esteem the world over and you will never be.They have given more service to this country than any politician ever will.
You should hold your head in shame and all like you.
Please feel free to leave the country.
I would even donate to your non return ticket
Your politicians friends who are rebuplicans should also join you as they are even worse as they take pay from the majority who pay taxes
They are a insult to us all who are patriots and tax payers

[cenydd]

Whilst I have every sympathy with the campaign for Scotland's independance, having a similar opinion about Wales, and also some sympathy with the position of 'republicanism' within that context, I do think it more than a little unfortunate that people felt the need to publically embaress and disrespect the queen in this way. Although I do have sympathy with the will to not recognise royal authority among those who wish to see their countries leave the UK (and no longer be subject to royal reign), I don't see that as a reason to disrespect someone who is at the very least the Head of State of what I would see as a closely allied neighbouring state.

At the point when Scotland (and indeed Wales) gains independance (if that is what eventually happens), there are clearly decisions to be made about the position of Head of State, membership of the Commonwealth and so on. At that point, the people (through their representatives, and perhaps via a referendum) can decide whether to invite the queen to such ceremonial occasions. Even beyond that, I wouldn't like to see visiting dignitries treated disrespectfully - that is not the mark of a decent independant nation, ready to take its place in the world.

From a Welsh perspective, I have difficulty recognising Charles's title 'Prince of Wales', since that is a historical title of Wales which has been usurped by the English crown (in my opinion). I would like to see his use of that title discontinued. However, I have to recognise that it has not yet been discontinue, and that he will have ceremonial duties within Wales until it is. Whilst I would not bow and scrape to him as my 'superior' or 'ruler', but I would certainly welcome him with respect and friendship as both the heir to the throne of my friends and neighbours and as someone who has fulfilled his given role (whether I think he should have been given it or not) in a genuine and decent way (to the best of his ability), taking seriously the implied responsiblities towards Wales (something actually quiite rare among English holders of the title!).

I would not boycott a ceremonial occasion because of his (or indeed his mother's) ceremonial role at it. I would continue to campaign against them being given such a role in the future, and expect them to respect my position in the same way that I respect theirs.

[JacquesMagique]

This raises a serious point
The undertones of the intentions of the SNP.
Do we want a republic as there are two choices of being a republic.

First the USA example where only the very rich can get into a power situation and the ordinary man in the street as no way way of being a politician.

Second
A republic where we are told what to by dictators or even a more controlled state than we could ever imagine.

Just think about it?

I'm sorry, but I fail to see the link between being a republic and being a state where only the richest can get into power. I agree this is an unfortunate situatio with the USA, but cannot see how thatis because of it being a republic. Currently we have an unelected head of state whose immense privelege only comes as the result of her bloodline.

[Patrioticman]

First of all America.
I have travelled many times in the USA over 40 years or so.
There are very many poor people for a start in the USA and only the rich gain power ,fact. I have seen it first hand although I do love Amercica myself and Amercans..Just take the health service alone,get ill in the USA without insurance you could die.I have seen people refused help.
Ask most Americans and they envy our Royal family and traditions.
The Queen as no political power what so ever and creates good will around the world.
It is better to have our political system although not perfect but it gives any one the chance to enter politics.
There is tradition of our Royal family line in history I agree not all good in the past but it does work.
The people it brings in tourism alone is worth it all.
Tourism is a great industry for the whole of the UK something Scotland should promote even more than it does now as it as lots more to offer .
Take Balmorol and the work it provides for the people of the area.
It all mounts up.
I have just had visitors from the States and Canada to my home and I have people visit me every year from all over the world and they want to see Royal things.
They also want to see things like the traditions of Scotland like the Highland Games or go to a Caliegh.
They are far more important to keep going than any independence.
A republic would be a backward step and we would end up with a president,who could that be a man like Salmond who only wants for himself more power and first himself then his party then us last.
You will see the SNP will look after themselves first with independence
and us last.
We need the union and the head of State Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth 2nd

[JacquesMagique]

First of all America.
I have travelled many times in the USA over 40 years or so.
There are very many poor people for a start in the USA and only the rich gain power ,fact. I have seen it first hand although I do love Amercica myself and Amercans..Just take the health service alone,get ill in the USA without insurance you could die.I have seen people refused help.

This is not because they do not have a monarch...
Republics do not neccesarily have to have low social mobility and no national health service, this is just a eature of specifially the USA. In fact Obama is making steps to address these issues...

[Patrioticman]

I take your point that not all republics have no services like us.
Some do have a health services
The Royal family are a great asset to our country and the envy of other countries around the world.
The Queen is head of State and as such she as no political power or even takes sides with any party.That cannot be said of a president.Good will is what she does best.Balance and fair play in the the UK.
We have the best system for electing our poilticians but with some faults but not as bad as other countries.
We should change to compulsary voting for all who are eligble to vote.
Scotland would face a further issue with government because at this time no mention of any other safety net like The House of Lords or some thing simular to look at legislation after going through a reading in parliament.
This allows some parts to be altered or modified as some things might be missed or added with out need or detail.
There are many republics in the world today and most have social problems far greater than ours.We have to take out health insurance in most countries to travel to but being British we refuse no one.Even the republics in Europe would not give us free care.With the exception of Spain.
Take the French very millitant and allow immigrants to enter there country then encourage them to come here,very selfish people.They should keep them as it is there first country of entry to Europe.
Cruel as well I remember when our sheep were being exported to france and the french farmers set fire to the trucks with live animals in,we do not do that,it is a republic.Some of the people of the european countries run away from Hitler or even worse sided with him and turned on there own countryman left us to it for there freedom they enjoy today.
We are not like that in any way and the majority are proud of our Queen and Country.
We have to be part members of that lot through the EU and most would stab us in the back even today.
Russia I have visited as well,first thing you notice is all the beggers with no limbs as there is no social care for them.The rich are rich and the poor are poor.A rebublic.
Countries like the USA and Canada stand by us,go to Canada see how patriotic they are to the Queen who is also there head of state and they are proud of that.
God save the Queen

[Alba]

The Royal family are a great asset to our country and the envy of other countries around the world.

God save the Queen

Well of course, 'patriotic' bollox.

As I said, patriotism is the unthinking man's nationalism.

Time to grow up a little and see that the Queen is not the envy of the world. This is the silliest nonsense I've ever read on any post anywhere.

A nation should be built on fundamental principles of equality, human rights and the archaic Royalty nonsense flushed down the loo.

I suspect you've made lots of posts like this elsewhere.

[Alba]

I do think it more than a little unfortunate that people felt the need to publically embaress and disrespect the queen in this way. Although I do have sympathy with the will to not recognise royal authority among those who wish to see their countries leave the UK (and no longer be subject to royal reign), I don't see that as a reason to disrespect someone who is at the very least the Head of State of what I would see as a closely allied neighbouring state.

I would like to point out that the SNP has never said a bad word against the Queen (excepting the 1979 election debacle and they said almost nothing).

The Brit parties (especially Labour who were largely absent from the Scottish parliament) didn't turn up to hear her words of wisdom and the pricipal SNP MSPs were all there.

No-one gives a monkey's about the Queen anymore except patriotic Brits (because they think that's their identity and of course it's not) who are simply brainwashed and performing nothing more than hero worship for people who are not heroic and just normal like everybody else.

[Alba]

This raises a serious point
The undertones of the intentions of the SNP.
Do we want a republic as there are two choices of being a republic.

First the USA example where only the very rich can get into a power situation and the ordinary man in the street as no way way of being a politician.

Second
A republic where we are told what to by dictators or even a more controlled state than we could ever imagine.

Just think about it?

Cherry picking drivel of course. It's amazing the people here let you continue on like this unchecked in your dashing Beefeater costume.

Let's look at some republics.

France, Ireland, Germany... a couple of examples there that have no relationship to your banana republic view of the world without the Queen.

If the royal family stopped existing tomorrow nobody would notice the slightest difference in their lives ever.

[Alba]

These people who did not attend showed they are not fit to be in any form of power.
They have insulted the brave men and women who fought any many lost there lives for this country to enjoy the feedom we have today.
This shows also the utter contempt for the people of this country and I suspect only a small pecentage of the people that gave them votes would not be anti crown.
They disgust me and many others who are patriots to our great country.

Those of the First World War who patriotically ran to war and its horrors for the drivel idea of King and country on both sides. Topped off with a football game at Xmas because they realised the lie that you don't.

It's hard to believe nobody calls you out on this 'Empire days' Brit stuff you think is logical argument and common discourse.

Unbelievable.

Viva la republicà!

I realise this is the 4th reply but honestly...