Recently, at a work-related meeting in Copenhagen, I had the opportunity to here a republican Scotsman opine about the nature of monarchy. In his view, it’s an essentially racist, classist and parasitic institution — whether it’s back in the UK, Denmark or Sweden.
I didn’t bother engaging him all too much. It did, however, make me ponder that thought process. He is a reasonably intelligent man, but his views are not grounded in reality.There is a myth of the republic — that a republic is somehow more meritorious, that it is somehow more egalitarian.
The two great modern republics, the United States and France, would seem to embody the exact opposite of those republican myths. Both the US and France have social hierarchies, both have a history of less than stellar treatment of visible minorities and it’s hard to argue that American or French presidents have been “men of the people”. The United States, in part, was formed as a response to growing pressures in Britain to end slavery. There was a sense that it was not a question of if Britain would end slavery, but when. Twelve of the first eighteen US presidents were slave owners.
In South Africa and Southern Rhodesia, part of the drive towards becoming republics was the desire to remove the influence of the Crown in domestic race politics. On his visit to South Africa in 1947, King George VI defied South African politicians and personally pinned medals on black South African soldiers. The Crown was making its discomfort with Apartheid and its Southern Rhodesian equivalent known with some regularity. Even that pales in comparison with the brutality of Argentinean and Chilean republics. Without the brake that the Spanish Crown had been, early South American republics engaged in genocides against indigenous peoples. There was a fear that they, too, would become mestizo societies in the Mexican fashion.
I have similarly wondered about the nature of cost. French, American, German, Irish, Italian and Austrian presidents receive pensions for life. Former PMs, when applicable, also receive life pensions. In the USA, that means that six men are receiving presidential salaries. Likewise, in France, relatively recently five men were receiving presidential salaries. In Germany, it’s six. American, French, German, Irish, Italian and Austrian presidents live in mansions/palaces. These are not humble, modest estates. A primary difference is that these residences are not necessarily open to the public as museums. Although visits are possible, they’re strictly controlled.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Hasn’t Sturgeon done well with her “republic”? I hope she gets no pension since one of her successes seems to be driving Orkney into the arms of Norway. The Orcadians are fed-up with the SNP and its useless “government.” They consider themselves Orcadians first and British second, but not Scottish. Congratulations Nicola and the rest of your useless bunch.
Sheona: Shetlanders are just as cool to the idea as Orcadians. They’re also hardly keen on the SNP.
I do, however, rather suspect that the SNP have had their hour. What do they have to run on? Their record is atrocious. Scottish independence? To what end? The EU isn’t doing well. I live here. Although Sweden is one of the better countries, it’s not as if life is any better than it is in the UK and France, Germany, etc. are hardly models to emulate.
I suspect that the Western Isles will feel the same as Orkney and Shetland, in view of Nicola’s disastrous ferry failure. The islands need their ferries working not just sitting half built in a ship yard at vast expense to Scottish taxpayers.
Sheona: As much as thrilled as I am by the SNP’s collision with reality, I suspect that Nicky the Fish timed her exit well. As unpleasant as she is, she is a canny operator and as astute as she is toxic. Mr Rocket fought valiantly for the poisoned chalice of being First Minister. He’ll take the fall — and the blame — for everything Big Al and Nicky the Fish ruined over the years. Not that he doesn’t deserve it, of course… People have short memories.