Campaigners have called for a serious, honest debate about the future of the monarchy, in response to government plans for multi-million pound celebrations of the Queen's jubilee.

Speaking for Republic, Graham Smith said today:

"The royals do little for Britain, yet they demand a lot. As we put the Covid crisis behind us next year, national celebrations should be centred on the ordinary people who make this country great."

"Seventy years in public office is not something to celebrate. It's not an achievement and it's not a good thing for Britain."

"We are now coming to the end of the Queen's reign, and we need to start having a serious debate about ending the monarchy altogether."

"In a democracy voters should be choosing their head of state, not behaving like spectators, watching the job pass from mother to son."

"The monarchy is wrong in principle, wasteful and secretive in practice and bad for British politics. Seventy years of one head of state should prompt serious debate, not state-sponsored celebrations."