nrogers

Where is Steve Vai?

FFS Ian... does the Queen actually have a say in how the country is run? I mean, even the House of Lords is filled with Labour annointed Lords... Cough "Cash for peerages" Cough.

Larger!

Nope, I agree with the current system, which is purely Democratic, the people in power are elected!

eh gads, my ears are bleeding thinking about it!

I'd prefer Chelski!

Sooooo Ian, do you conceed I have answered your question!

I hate Queen, it would have to be the Priest!

Both highly overrated... but in a choice it would have to be the Clash, I HATE Sting

He could ruin labour for a few years, this eeejut.

Just a few years you reckon... unelectable for at least 3 terms!

Maiden, I believe they still have the highest ever live gate, when they played Long Beach.

Or a cup of tea, or a Espresso.... it's great having your own machine!

Water.

HP without doubt!

Music, films would be crap without Music!

No issue with it, none at all... an embryo is not a life!

Nick you still refuse to answer the central point, if you call yourself a democrat do you really believe a democrat can support the HofS being non elected ?

The Royal Family make no decisions on the running of the country, they leave it to the politians that have been democratically elected. You make it sound like the Royal Family are the equivilent of Robert Mugabe.. Which is simply not the case.

Therefore it makes your point, well, pointless, as we can have an unelected HoS, when the descisions are made by an elected entity.

Yes I have

simple, for example we have 10 in Brum, each represents just over 90,000 you could easily reduce to 6 repesenting around 150,000, cuts down running costs and to be honest you don;t need 10MPS to represent Brum notr say is it 70 for London

in my plan I would devolve power anway down to local councils, meaning in theory less work for MP's anyway

What hell has that got to do with the Royal family, this could be achieved with them in situ!

boy you don;t get it or rather you refuse to accept the point (which is not a British one as such) but even in a cermonial role (which they have more power than that ) that surely an elected HofS is more democratic.

Ireland's HofS is purely ceremonial isn't she and elected ?

different systems out there really, executive HofS, ceremonial, mix of both but where elected it is infietnly more democratic tha what we have now.

My preferred option is similar to the Irish model, the PM retains the exec powers, we have two chambers, commons and Senate with all being elected by PR (form is open to debate)

all on 4 year fixed terms with the senate and HofS being elected in the 2nd year of the commons 4 year period

any change of PM by a party results in an immediate commons election, except in the case of a death of a servig PM

commons numbers to be reduced to 400

senate numbers to be around 50

I absolutely get it Ian, I just don't agree with you and I have answered your question.

You don't like the Royals, simply because they are, as you would call, Toffs. I like the Royals, everyone knows they would never invoke any of the so called power they have. They are great embassadors for the country and most of the males serve in the Armed forces and many of them have seen action. Dress it up how you like, we won't agree.

But don't try and say I don't get it, as I clearly understand your viewpoint, I simply don't agree with it!

The Royal Family make no decisions on the running of the country, they leave it to the politians that have been democratically elected. You make it sound like the Royal Family are the equivilent of Robert Mugabe.. Which is simply not the case.

Therefor it makes you point, well, pointless, as we can have an unelected HoS, when the descisions are made by an elected entity.

Ian, I do debate, but there is no point in going round in circles, not to mention whena point is raised that you cannot answer, you deflect, and draw the debate in a different directs, like I said there is no point!

Ian, there really is no point..

I just don't see your point, what actually is it? The Royal Family reprisents tradition, and gives our country some national identity, they are a great international embassidor, I find it quite funny that Kiwi's love the Queen, as do most Aussies I know, and the Queens face is on their money.

Yeah there has been some embarrassments, in the shape of Phillip, but Tony Blair (The man who wanted to be head state) did many, many more..

So Nick are you a Democrat ?

obviously not as you believe we should have an head of state by birth and patronage and not the will of the people

What? So when was the last time Royal Assent refused to pass a bill?

Long live our Gracious Queen!

I think they are a little more popular in the country than people on here think, didn't several Million turn up for the jubilee parade, and I wonder how many turn up for the Changing of the guard, and other such royal ceremonies!