Standards Campaign

We believe the monarchy systematically abuses its influence and routinely misuses public resources and taxpayers' money. This campaign is aimed at exposing that waste and abuse, demonstrating that the monarchy is not fit for purpose in a twenty-first century democracy and reinforcing our case for a republican constitution.

At a time when public finances are under considerable pressure, and when MPs are being hounded over their expenses, it is time the palace was put under the spotlight.

In 1994 the government established the Committee on Standards in Public Life, initially to deal with concerns about unethical conduct amongst MPs, including accepting financial incentives for tabling Parliamentary questions, and issues over procedures for appointment to public bodies.

As an independent advisory body to the Government, the committee monitors, reports and makes recommendations on all issues relating to standards in public life.

Unfortunately the committee's remit does not extend to the monarchy, one of the most secretive, unaccountable and financially wasteful institutions of the British state.

That secrecy is made worse by the government's decision to exempt the monarchy from the Freedom of Information Act and to allow the palace to manage its own finances, without the need for full auditing by the National Audit Office.

Republic's campaign on Standards in Public Life is aimed at correcting that anomoly and at applying the Committee's Seven Principles of Public Life to the royal household and the institution of the monarchy, by demanding greater financial accountability and by using the Freedom of Information rules where we can to expose abuses of public resources.

Objectives of the campaign

The core objectives of the campaign are to secure political support for:

• the formal extension of the remit of the Committee on Standards in Public Life to cover the monarchy.
• the inclusion of the monarchy in the Freedom of Information Act.
• the funding of the monarchy to be agreed each year by parliament and for all palace finances to be fully audited by the National Audit Office.

What we'll be doing

With your help we'll be lobbying MPs to gain their support for this campaign. We'll be using the Freedom of Information Act, where possible, to expose waste, mismanagement and abuse. We'll be launching investigations into a range of issues, seeking to let the harsh light of day into this most secretive of public institutions.

Over the coming months we'll be posting on the blog, writing about the issues raised by this campaign. We'll also be posting more information here about the Seven Principles, investigations and what issues we'll be looking into.