25 May 2012

Why the Queen is great value for Britain

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Fourteen-year-old Radwan Hussain of King Solomon Academy in London spoke at British Future’s Great British Breakfast, explaining why he thought the monarchy was a positive influence in Britain. Following the event we invited him to write a short blog ahead of the Jubilee.

Why is the Queen cheaper than a can of coke? Every year the average person spends £6 on Coca-Cola and only 61p of their taxes on the monarchy, says Radwan Hussain. By contributing this 61p, the British people get a royal family, extra holidays, and a sense of national pride and identity. By spending almost ten times that amount on coke, the British people can enjoy the benefits of bad teeth, the risk of diabetes and heart problems. While coke has a negative influence on your health, the monarchy continues to be one of the most influential forces in British society. The monarchy is clearly the better deal.

There are so many ways in which the monarchy positively shapes British society. Firstly, the Queen inspires the public and gives them the goal of improving the society they inhabit. Not only is she the patron of six hundred charities, she also has the important duty of knighting those who deserve it, from Sir Michael Wilshaw to Sir Richard Branson. As a result, a meritocracy is encouraged wherein individuals aspire to be the best. By doing so society as a whole benefits.

Secondly, the monarchy, as a family, have a personal impact on the public. They often inspire the British public, the most recent example being the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The newer generations of the royal family help shape our modern British society while the older members help keep traditional British values.

Finally, the monarchy holds a unique moral authority. They put a cap on power hungry politicians and those who take advantage of our political system like the Murdoch family or all those MPs with their expense’s scandals. The Queen makes those people feel as if there is someone above them, that there is someone to catch them out. The continuity of the monarchy throughout British history means the Queen can act as bulwark, stopping power from overflowing and becoming corrupt.

It is worth noting that Commonwealth countries, such as Australia, have had the opportunity to get rid of the monarchy and the Queen, but have consistently chosen against this. If the monarchy was of no benefit, surely they would have removed her as the head of state?

So what’s best for our country: a lovely, sweet drink which sticks your back teeth together or a lovely, sweet old lady who sticks the country back together? If you have a spare 61p, the choice is yours.

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