News

The government is considering a "levy" on owners of personal computers to finance the BBC. According to its green paper on the future of the state media giant this may be necessary if large numbers switch to watching TV on the Internet instead of using traditional television receivers.

It is not clear whether the government is thinking of requiring computer owners to buy an annual licence to use their equipment, as is the case with TVs. This seems likely, however, as a one-off tax on computer purchases would need to be prohibitively high in order to bring in the necessary revenue.

This threat of an expansion of state interference in freedom of communication is a unwelcome surprise to civil rights advocates. At present the government is only able to deny citizens the right to watch TV programmes. If the law was changed as suggested all communication through the Internet, including access to news and discussion sites, would require government permission.

Britain has no constitutional protection for freedom of expression.

06:26 PM | | (0) | (0)

Charles Windsor, son of Britain’s hereditary head of state, is reported to have said that he would be happy for New Zealand to become a republic. He told conservationist Chris Laidlaw in a 1997 conversation in Christchurch, New Zealand that "to be frank, I think it would come as a great relief to all of us".

According to Mr. Laidlaw Windsor went on to say "It would remove the awful ambiguity we have at the moment. It seems to me that it would be a lot easier for everybody if you all had your own completely independent head of state.

"I certainly never want to be dragged into any constitutional disputes in New Zealand or anywhere else. I simply can't imagine how difficult it would be to be faced with having to dismiss a New Zealand Prime Minister."

Following this disclosure in the New Zealand Herald, Dave Guerin, president of the New Zealand republican movement said "We will ask the select committee looking into constitutional arrangements to consider this. We will also write to the Prime Minister asking her to look into the implications of our future head of state having expressly stated his concerns about carrying out the role. The government may need to bring forward consideration of a republic."

Although New Zealand is an independent nation it does not choose its own head of state but allows the British Windsor family to fill its chief public office.

07:05 PM | | (0) | (0)

Charles Windsor, son of Britain’s hereditary head of state, is reported to have said that he would be happy for New Zealand to become a republic. He told conservationist Chris Laidlaw in a 1997 conversation in Christchurch, New Zealand that "to be frank, I think it would come as a great relief to all of us".

According to Mr. Laidlaw Windsor went on to say "It would remove the awful ambiguity we have at the moment. It seems to me that it would be a lot easier for everybody if you all had your own completely independent head of state.

"I certainly never want to be dragged into any constitutional disputes in New Zealand or anywhere else. I simply can't imagine how difficult it would be to be faced with having to dismiss a New Zealand Prime Minister."

Following this disclosure in the New Zealand Herald, Dave Guerin, president of the New Zealand republican movement said "We will ask the select committee looking into constitutional arrangements to consider this. We will also write to the Prime Minister asking her to look into the implications of our future head of state having expressly stated his concerns about carrying out the role. The government may need to bring forward consideration of a republic."

Although New Zealand is an independent nation it does not choose its own head of state but allows the British Windsor family to fill its chief public office.

07:05 PM | | (0) | (0)