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I take very seriously the hypocrisy, that on the one hand they're only ceremonial but on the other can privately lobby the government, are exempt from multiple

I take very seriously the hypocrisy, that on the one hand they're only ceremonial but on the other can privately lobby the government, are exempt from multiple laws and taxes, are reportedly billionaires yet still expect taxpayer funding. The equivalent you might be looking for is the clowns expect us to swear allegiance to them and their offspring on Saturday. I'll happily swear at them but it won't be my allegiance. Time to end this scam.

benj111 4y ago
They get tax payer funding only because they voluntarily give most of the income to the government. If you wanted to frame it as a tax rate it'd be high than a normal citizen's. I'm not ideologically royalist, but I'd rather have the current system than an elected president.
- nprateem 4y ago
  > voluntarily give most of the income to the government Got a source? According to The Guardian they use no end of smoke and mirrors so the plebs can't find out how much they're worth. Not to mention them not being subject to inheritance tax.
  - benj111 4y ago
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-57559653 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-57559653 So their tax rate is 75% - 85%.
    - nprateem 4y ago
      I'm no expert. You may want to read this: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2023/apr/20/revealed-king-charless-private-fortune-estimated-at-almost-2bn https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2023/apr/...
Jiro 4y ago
Doesn't the monarchy have to pay a lot of money for maintenance on the properties that they "own", which the government would have to pay instead if it was confiscated?
- l__l 4y ago
  Sure, but they also take an extraordinary amount of money from taxpayers. Also, there are issues over whether they own everything they make money from (e.g., properties, and recently a large number of official state gifts). I'd say they're doing rather well off of us ;P The Gruanidad has been running a series on this (especially nice to see in the run up to the coronation) https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/series/cost-of-the-crown https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/series/cost-of-the-crown In particular, from here, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/07/british-royal-family-wealth-finances-cost-of-the-crown-summary https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/07/british-roya... > Elizabeth II and Charles III have extracted cash payments worth more than £1.2bn from two hereditary estates that pay no tax, in addition to the millions they receive in public funding for their official duties. In 2022, they received £21m each from the duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall respectively, despite a centuries-old debate over whether the two estates in fact belong to the British nation.
teh_klev 4y ago
> can privately lobby the government Case in point, "The Black Spider Memos": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_spider_memos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_spider_memos
laurencerowe 4y ago
The monarchy are bad but they are far from the biggest problem facing the UK. I think we should get rid of them too but suspect it will take another generation or so before it becomes politically Vivek to say so.

benj111 4y ago

They get tax payer funding only because they voluntarily give most of the income to the government. If you wanted to frame it as a tax rate it'd be high than a normal citizen's. I'm not ideologically royalist, but I'd rather have the current system than an elected president.

nprateem 4y ago
> voluntarily give most of the income to the government Got a source? According to The Guardian they use no end of smoke and mirrors so the plebs can't find out how much they're worth. Not to mention them not being subject to inheritance tax.
- benj111 4y ago
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-57559653 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-57559653 So their tax rate is 75% - 85%.
  - nprateem 4y ago
    I'm no expert. You may want to read this: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2023/apr/20/revealed-king-charless-private-fortune-estimated-at-almost-2bn https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2023/apr/...

Jiro 4y ago

Doesn't the monarchy have to pay a lot of money for maintenance on the properties that they "own", which the government would have to pay instead if it was confiscated?

l__l 4y ago
Sure, but they also take an extraordinary amount of money from taxpayers. Also, there are issues over whether they own everything they make money from (e.g., properties, and recently a large number of official state gifts). I'd say they're doing rather well off of us ;P The Gruanidad has been running a series on this (especially nice to see in the run up to the coronation) https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/series/cost-of-the-crown https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/series/cost-of-the-crown In particular, from here, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/07/british-royal-family-wealth-finances-cost-of-the-crown-summary https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/07/british-roya... > Elizabeth II and Charles III have extracted cash payments worth more than £1.2bn from two hereditary estates that pay no tax, in addition to the millions they receive in public funding for their official duties. In 2022, they received £21m each from the duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall respectively, despite a centuries-old debate over whether the two estates in fact belong to the British nation.

teh_klev 4y ago

> can privately lobby the government Case in point, "The Black Spider Memos": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_spider_memos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_spider_memos

laurencerowe 4y ago

The monarchy are bad but they are far from the biggest problem facing the UK. I think we should get rid of them too but suspect it will take another generation or so before it becomes politically Vivek to say so.