Billboards calling on people to 'make Elizabeth the last' are going up around the UK this weekend.

The campaign is being organised by anti-monarchy group Republic, as part of its response to the Jubilee.

With polls showing support for the monarchy falling and a significant drop in the number of street parties from ten years ago, Republic believes the time is right to kickstart a national debate about the future of the monarchy.

Republic has raised more than £43,000 so far, in support of their billboard campaign.

The first tranche of billboards will be going up in Reading, Manchester, Bournemouth, Birmingham, Dundee, Leeds, Glasgow, Newcastle and Bristol from Sunday May 22.

Speaking for Republic, Graham Smith said today:

"What the fanfare and TV coverage will gloss over is the fall in support for the royals over recent years. Yet as we approach the end of the Queen's reign the country needs to start talking about moving on and getting rid of the monarchy."

"The Queen is the monarchy for most people, she's the one who sustains support for the institution. The idea that we should all sit back and accept Charles as our head of state is going to be questioned by a lot of people."

"The monarchy is wrong in principle, wrong in practice and it's bad for British politics. Without the Queen protecting the royals, with more controversial and divisive men in charge of the monarchy change will be much easier to achieve."

"These billboards are part of a wider move to generate a bigger, louder public debate about the future of the monarchy."

"Recent polls now show more than 1 in 4 want the monarchy abolished, while support has dropped from 75% to 60%. Ten years ago around 10,000 street parties were registered for the jubilee, this time it's just 1700."

"The monarchy is increasingly out of touch and out of time. We need to prepare to move on and start electing our head of state."


NOTES

Billboards can be seen at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/republic

Street party numbers were reported at
www.theguardian.com

Recent YouGov reported at
www.republic.org.uk