• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • FAQ
  • Meet the Team
  • About The London Economic
  • Advertise
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
NEWSLETTER
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Australia’s Long Goodbye Will End With A Whimper

Britain’s imperial legacy is complex and widely disputed but one curious side effect is the number of independent countries that still have the Queen as head of state. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and a bevy of small nations are part of her domain, despite Britain having little or no authority over them. This Australia Day […]

Darragh Roche by Darragh Roche
January 27, 2016
in News, Politics

Britain’s imperial legacy is complex and widely disputed but one curious side effect is the number of independent countries that still have the Queen as head of state. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and a bevy of small nations are part of her domain, despite Britain having little or no authority over them.

This Australia Day the premiers of all but one of the country’s states called for a republic. The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, is a known republican, as is the opposition leader. Talk of an Australian republic isn’t new but the long life of Elizabeth II has been a barrier to republican dreams. It’s generally accepted that ditching the monarchy while the Queen is still in situ would be highly insulting. A referendum has been proposed for 2020, when the Queen will be 94 if she’s still living. Considering her record breaking reign, anything is possible.

An Australian republic will not be a cataclysm for Britain. It shouldn’t even ruffle the feathers of Britain’s reactionaries. It is bizarre that a European country shares a head of state with an entirely different nation almost 10,000 miles away and on the other side of the world. Australians have a genuine affection for Elizabeth II – she’s part of the national furniture by now. But a distant country can’t be expected to remain passive when its head of state changes. The Queen’s death, however distant, will be a once in a lifetime event. There is no imperative on Australia to accept a British prince as head of state, to put his face on their money and give him the honours associated with national leadership.

Britain’s politicians will likely accept the change with good grace. It will be a political non-event for British citizens. However, when Australia ditches the monarchy it may produce a domino effect. Jamaica has already said it wants to become a republic and republican leanings in Canada have a long history. The British crown could see itself lose title after title in the early days of a new reign.

There are naturally concerns that disinheriting the monarchy could endanger the Commonwealth. A shared head of state is one thing that holds the Commonwealth together. But the club of former colonies is no econonomic or political organisation. Britain receives no trade benefits from the Commonwealth and its worldwide monarchy gives it no added geopolitical clout. While the Commonwealth would survive Australian and Canadian republics, its demise would do little but dent Britain’s pride.

And what about a British republic? There’s little for the House of Windsor to worry about. Australia wants a head of state chosen by the people, resident in the country and representative of Australian life. British people want the same and the monarchy fills that role perfectly. A new king might see his domains shrink but the loyalty of the British people will continue. That is, of course, if the issue of Scottish independence is put aside. The Scottish nationalists might yet see an opening with the declaration of a United States of Australia.

Britain has nothing to fear from republican sentiments in its former colonies. Australia has been saying a long goodbye. The front pages of newspapers on Australia Day made ‘independence’ look like a big bang. But Australia, like so many other crown territories, is already independent. The natural retreat of monarchy will be a gradual whimper.

RelatedPosts

Mail On Sunday ordered to print front-page statement on Meghan’s copyright win

UK guilty of breaching air pollution limits, European Court of Justice rules

Government ‘acted unlawfully’ by failing to publish over 500 Covid contracts in time – High Court

UK is ‘over’ – Welsh first minister’s damning comments on future of Union

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism
Please login to join discussion

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending fromTLE

  • All
  • trending

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

Stress, fear and homelessness: The threat looming over families confronted with eviction

File photo dated 07/11/03 of a prison cell.

The Other Prison Pandemic

Latest from TLE

Euro Millions results Friday 5th March 2021

thunder ball results

Thunder Ball Results, Friday 5th March 2021

Pink Marmalade Gin

Pink Marmalade Gin: a natural, colour changing gin

Mail On Sunday ordered to print front-page statement on Meghan’s copyright win

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: jack@thelondoneconomic.com

Commercial enquiries, please contact: advertise@thelondoneconomic.com

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech & Auto
  • About The London Economic
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy policy

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.