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The BBC state broadcasting giant, which has styled itself “the greatest force for cultural good on the face of the earth”, is spending public money glorifying graffiti vandalism.

Its Web site is publishing a cartoon called Taggerz (a reference to the vandal's practice of spraying their personal “tag” on private and public property) about a gang called the Ruffneck Crew, which the broadcaster characterises as graffiti “artists”. “When your crew is your family, you better hope they've got your back” says the BBC, which is widely known as "Auntie".

The gang leader is named “Radikal”. A rap song associated with the cartoon boasts of graffiti attacks on trains and railway stations, which are particular targets for graffiti vandals.

In its defence the BBC told the Sunday Telegraphy that “We have to accept that for some people graffiti is a political act”. It justified graffiti vandalism as the “only recourse open to” people who cannot afford to buy adverts or produce TV programmes.

The Keep Britain Tidy Campaign has accused the BBC of legitimizing graffiti vandalism.

It is illegal in Britain to watch any TV, including commercial, satellite and cable, without a license from the BBC. The Corporation currently charges £121 a year for the privilege.

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The removal of monarchical symbols from Australian public life is picking up speed. In April the New South Wales (NSW) legislative assembly agreed an amendment to the state consitution that would replace the pledge of loyalty to queen Windsor taken by ministers and MPs with a pledge to Australia and the people of NSW. The bill must now be approved by the legislative council.

In February the NSW parliament agreed a law to replace the Windsor coat of arms with state symbols in official buidings and documents. New South Wales has also decided that state lands that were previously held in the name of queen Windsor and known as “Crown” lands will now be called State lands, held for and on behalf of the people of the state.

TheWestern Australia parliament is also debating a bill that will free MPs from the indignity of pledging allegiance to queen Windsor.

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Republicans See Oaths Reform As Step To Republic

New Zealand republicans have welcomed the Oaths Modernisation Bill, which will require new citizens and legislators to swear or affirm loyalty to New Zealand and to its democracy, rights and freedoms as well as to Elizabeth Windsor, Britain's hereditary head of state. The Republicans Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand said “The best thing about the new oaths is that they can easily be changed when we become a republic . . . all we will need to do is drop the reference to the Queen and move on.”

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Prime Minister Tony Blair has appointed 27 new legislators-for-life to sit in the House of Lords. Sixteen of the new legislators are labour party members, giving that party its first majority in the second chamber. A number of the new legislators are former MPs who chose not to stand for election by the people this time.

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The conservative party has protested against government plans to reform the House of Lords. Party spokesman Oliver Head said that reform of the unelected legislative chamber would marginalize what he described as “the only chamber of parliament these days that is able to stand up to” the prime minister.

If government proposals are agreed it is expected that the 92 hereditary legislators will be removed from parliament, most legislators will be elected instead of appointed, the unwritten conventions which govern the chamber will be codified and the time for which laws passed by the elected chamber can be delayed will be reduced to 60 days.

Many of the unelected lawmakers are expected to use their power as legislators to fiercely resist the democratisation of parliament. Prime minister Tony Blair is personally opposed to the election of members of the second chamber.

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