http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/news/ From feudalism to democracy en-us 2008-07-17T18:30:12+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000244.html The end of feudalism in the British legislature may be delayed again. Justice minister Jack Straw has published the third discussion paper on House of Lords reform in seven years. But if he has his way there will be no... Centre for Citizenship 2008-07-17T18:30:12+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000243.html “Along with the BBC and the monarchy, the (national health) service has become part of the way in which we define what makes our country special.” So wrote Nicholas Timmins in the Financial Times on 30 June 2008. Mr. Timmins... Centre for Citizenship 2008-07-01T16:50:21+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000242.html The Barclay brothers have said they will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights after the High Court rejected their claim that state recognition of feudal positions in Sark breaches human rights. New legislation will give Sark, a “crown... Centre for Citizenship 2008-06-23T18:02:43+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000241.html The Scout Association has threatened to deny full membership of its Cubs to eight-year-old Matthew McVeigh because he refuses to promise allegiance to Britain's feudal head of state, Elizabeth Windsor. Matthew's family is Catholic and Britain's constitution bars Catholics... Centre for Citizenship 2008-06-16T17:57:38+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000239.html The Caribbean island Bermuda, Britain’s oldest colony, is to celebrate the birthday of hereditary head of state Elizabeth Windsor for the last time this year. The colony’s government, which favours independence from Britain, is to replace the public holiday... Centre for Citizenship 2008-06-03T18:37:26+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000238.html A Roy Morgan Research opinion poll suggests that 46 per cent of New Zealanders are in favour of their country becoming a republic. Only 41 per cent favoured the current status of monarchy. This percentage fell to 32 when... Centre for Citizenship 2008-06-03T18:36:56+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000237.html The British government announced on 30 April that there would be no change to the feudal Act of Settlement that favours males for head of state and bars Catholics. In April the government had announced its intention of ending the... Centre for Citizenship 2008-06-03T18:36:13+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000236.html Thousands danced in the streets of Kathmandu when Nepal’s monarchy was abolished on 28 May. Legislators had voted 560 to 4 to end the 240-year-old evil. King Gyanendra has been given 14 days to vacate his palace and has been... Centre for Citizenship 2008-06-02T08:29:56+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000235.html Barrister David Pannick has told the High Court that feudal offices in the English Channel island of Sark breach human rights and are inconsistent with a modern democracy. Mr. Pannick is representing the Barclay brothers who own one fifth of... Centre for Citizenship 2008-05-29T18:41:19+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000234.html In a new demonstration of its commitment to equal opportunities the government has announced that it will end discrimination against female members of the Windsor family. A sixteenth century law currently gives male family members precedence over older sisters for... Centre for Citizenship 2008-04-26T08:59:58+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000233.html Fifty-five per cent of Canadians want their country to break its link with Britain’s feudal head of state according to a new opinion poll. Another four per cent agree that Canada should become a republic if Charles Windsor becomes head... Centre for Citizenship 2008-04-02T15:05:05+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000232.html The people of Britain could still be denied the right to elect all their legislators under proposals being drawn up in secret and reported in the press. Hundreds of years after democrats first demanded abolition of the House of... Centre for Citizenship 2008-03-24T10:35:12+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000231.html The number of chief executives of FTSE 100 companies that are "knights" has fallen to just 5 from 32 in 1984, according to a report in the Financial Times. In 1984, when the FTSE was created, 40 per cent of... Centre for Citizenship 2008-03-24T10:34:15+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000230.html The supreme court has upheld a High Court ruling that the Communications Act 2003, which forbids "political" television advertisements, does not beach the human rights of British citizens. The "law lords" agreed unanimously that there should be a "level playing... Centre for Citizenship 2008-03-19T19:54:25+00:00 http://www.centreforcitizenship.org/weblogs/archives/000229.html "The BBC collects the (licence) fee, creating a personal contract with every household". Patricia Hodgson, a Dame Commander of the British Empire and British Broadcasting Corp. trustee writing in The Financial Times. "This is an official warning that the TV... Centre for Citizenship 2008-03-19T19:53:30+00:00