Public Opinion

Opinion polls consistently put support for a republic at around 20% (various Mori polls), and some have put it as high as 43% (GMTV/Mirror 2008). That means that at least 10 million people would vote to abolish the monarchy - the same number that voted for the winning party at our last general election.

There has also been a steady increase in the number of people who do not think the monarchy will survive in the long term. A 2002 poll showed that 70% believe Britain will be a republic within 50 years (Mori 2002).

Aside from direct arguments about the monarchy, there is a clear demand for a new relationship between individuals and government.

The majority of British voters (63%) believe our system of government needs improvement, with only 3% believing it works "extremely well" (Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust 'State of the Nation Poll' 2004). Republic's message is that the monarchy is our system of government, distorting and infecting our entire political culture.

The truth is that we don't know exactly how popular a republican constitution would be until we put it to the British people after a period of full and open debate.

An opinion poll is not a substitute for a referendum or an election.

Being popular and being right are not the same thing

Holding a minority view and campaigning to popularise that view through peaceful means is the very essence of democracy. Democracy is rule by the people - not simply rule by the majority - and democratic ideals underpin our campaign.

Many of the great reform movements of the last century - universal suffrage and the abolition of slavery, for example - began as minority interests with very little popular support.

Our mission is to persuade a majority that a republic would be best for Britain, and we will continue campaigning until we have done so.