THE MONARCHY – AN OUTDATED CONCEPT

The role of the monarchy is largely – if not entirely symbolic.  Its powers form part of convention, not practice. 

Any real powers have been gradually eroded over time.  It has formal powers of Crown in the executive process of British Government.  But in practice these are largely exercised by Ministers as part of constitutional monarchy. 

These amount to ‘official’ appointment of ministers – but not in reality (Prime Minister’s job).   They give Royal Assent to all  Government Bills – but again, this is largely convention.   They ‘officially’ open and dissolve Parliament – convention again.  And ‘declare war’ – Prime Minister again in reality. 

These insignificant roles hardly seem enough to justify such a seeming worthless and hugely expensive institution.  And just because it has been there for so many years does not make it a good idea. 

We should scrap the royal family – once and for all – because:    

- The concept is outdated

- They perform no real function – of any real importance

 - The monarchy is expensive – a drain on tax-payers’ money

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

The criminal justice system in this country is bonkers.
 
Three men walk free after a well organised fraud of a 90 year old woman totalling £185, 000 - but a 16 year old boy is remanded in custody for failing to produce a valid TV licence.  And a 19 year old boy is remanded in custody for failing to produce a valid car insurance certificate. 
 
And a 37 year old homeless man – in court for failing to turn up to 3 meetings out of 17 with his court supervisor is denied bail and sent back to jail until his trial becuase he has nowhere else to go. 
 
Meanwhile, a rich and famous football player, arrested on suspicion of rape after police were called to the boutique hotel in which he was staying after a club party is given bail until his trail in two months, but a 41 year old father, a solicitor is jailed for 20 months for trying to take back his seven month old daughter from interim foster care – who was put into care because of ‘mental health difficulties’ of his wife. 
 
And today – a British born man who’s served 20 years of a life sentence on death row – having narrowly avoided being given the death sentence – for unintentionally starting a fire in which a young girl was killed – is released  after serving 20 years ond death row, while three 13 year old boys who started a fire on purpose in a warehouse - but said they thought it had been put out when they left - causing the death of a 33 year old man - were cleared by a jury. 
 
This is wrong.  Because:
 
Jailing young offenders, or indeed older/repeat offenders does not solve the problem.  – Prison is not an effective rehabilitation for offenders.  
 
So what is the purpose of Prison?
- To punish?
- To keep away from society so no more harm to others can be done?
- To rehabilitate?
 
Are any of these aims compatable?  Are some of them, perhaps, counteractive?  And are they really achieved by jailing offenders? - And if not – what’s the point, excatly?