Comments on: Pounds, pence and the Palace http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/06/28/pounds-pence-and-the-palace/ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:54:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Will http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/06/28/pounds-pence-and-the-palace/#comment-16786 Will Wed, 28 Jun 2006 15:51:30 +0000 http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/06/28/pounds-pence-and-the-palace/#comment-16786 Another reason the costs aren't comparable: I understand the Royal Family figure includes upkeep costs for their various estates, whereas the figure for MPs is only the money that goes directly to them and their offices. But I've never considered the cost of the monarchy a particularly important part of the question of its constitutional position. You can spend as much or as little as you like on a Head of State; it should have little bearing on how the Head of State is selected. Another reason the costs aren’t comparable: I understand the Royal Family figure includes upkeep costs for their various estates, whereas the figure for MPs is only the money that goes directly to them and their offices.

But I’ve never considered the cost of the monarchy a particularly important part of the question of its constitutional position. You can spend as much or as little as you like on a Head of State; it should have little bearing on how the Head of State is selected.

]]> By: NImbos http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/06/28/pounds-pence-and-the-palace/#comment-16776 NImbos Wed, 28 Jun 2006 13:18:53 +0000 http://www.willhowells.org.uk/blog/2006/06/28/pounds-pence-and-the-palace/#comment-16776 True on the statistics thing - you can prove almost anything you like. Of course the other thing which is also conveniently left off the "cost" of the monarchy is how it is offset many, many times over by revenue from the Crown Estates which goes directly to HM Treasury in a deal struck initially (I think) with George III. I also think there's no reason to beleive that any other system would be cheaper - the French Presidency (for example) costs far more (AFAIK). True on the statistics thing - you can prove almost anything you like.

Of course the other thing which is also conveniently left off the “cost” of the monarchy is how it is offset many, many times over by revenue from the Crown Estates which goes directly to HM Treasury in a deal struck initially (I think) with George III.

I also think there’s no reason to beleive that any other system would be cheaper - the French Presidency (for example) costs far more (AFAIK).

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