The poll found that 47 percent of those surveyed thought that Britain was not as good a place as before the queen’s reign, and just over half said they would not go to a jubilee street party or other celebration.
The poll did not say how Britons felt their nation had changed for the worse. Elizabeth has presided over the demise of Britain’s once vast empire and many Britons are now feeling the squeeze of tough government spending cuts to tackle a big budget deficit.
Meanwhile, in an independent Scotland, the Queen may not remain head of state after one of the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) most senior MSPs confirmed it is party policy to hold a referendum on the monarchy.
Christine Grahame, the convener of Holyrood’s justice committee, said the party has pledged to hold a public vote on a separate Scotland having a “full-blown monarchy, an edited version or go for a republic”.
“The last time I looked at that, after independence there would be a referendum at some point on whether we in Scotland have the full blown monarchy, an edited version or go for a republic. I have no problems with that, being a wholehearted democrat,” she said.
Her comments seriously undermine Alex Salmond’s claim that the Queen and her successors would automatically remain head of state following separation from England.
The First Minister has pledged to retain great British institutions like the monarchy and the pound in an attempt to persuade skeptical Scots to support separation in the forthcoming referendum.
But despite him repeatedly lavishing praise on the Queen, the SNP cannot produce any evidence that members have voted to replace their long-standing policy that a referendum would be held on the monarchy after independence.
MOL/SS/HE
Related posts:
Views: 0