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20 August 2004

SALADDAZE hosting

My website is finally back and working at www.saladdaze.net; hope you like the new look. Over the next week the bio, history and photos will be restored and there will be a new Politics entry on the fate of the House of Lords.

Thanks must go to my younger brother and those friendly a Tale in the Desert people for setting up and providing my server space. I really must play their MMORPG - it has received rave reviews and is meant to be a quite an unique experience.

posted by Matthew at 18:00 0 comments

19 August 2004

POLITICS - THE MONARCHY Queen Elizabeth rather than President Blair

I still think this country has a place for the monarchy. In a modern world which is so forward looking, I think it important for the character of the nation to have a ritualistic link to the past. I also believe it is a stabling influence on government to have an independent head of state.

In addition, I believe the monarchy can be justified on economic grounds. The Civil List (money paid by the government to support leading Royals - 70% of which pays the salaries of the Queen's staff) was established in 1760 under George III. The current Civil List was fixed at £7.9m in 1990 and has been fixed at that level until 2010. The monarch in return for this pays all the revenues from the Crown Estates to the Exchequer - in the Tax Year 2002-3 the Crown Estates paid to the national purse the sum of £170.8m.

Much has also been made of the Queen’s own personal wealth; however, it must be remembered that the Royal Palaces, crown jewels and the Royal collection are all held by Queen Elizabeth as monarch on behalf of the nation – she is not in a position to sell such treasures (although the Queen does own Balmoral and Sandringham in her own right). Queen Elizabeth also pays income, capital gains, value added and council tax.

In addition, if the monarchy was abolished, the Queen and her household would have to be replaced by a civil head of state, such as a president, whose office would still require enormous expense to maintain. Whilst Royals do live in the lap of luxury, they have the burden of constant press intrusion. I think it necessary, both in terms of national pride and international relations, that a head of state should be accompanied by a certain amount of pomp and splendour.

Events such as the Trooping of the Colour do not only serve as a tourist attraction and an official birthday festivity but another way of celebrating those who make great sacrifices in the armed forces.

There are many criticisms which can be made of the monarchy, and indeed also of the present incumbent’s family, but no viable alternative has been suggested for an old nation such as Britain. The £7.9m Civil List is comparable to what the nation would have to pay for a president’s office and I, for one, would much have Queen Elizabeth rather than President Blair or Howard.

posted by Matthew at 15:40 3 comments

FIRST POST - a new start

Soon this will be a blog on life, politics and anything else I can think of.

That is once the server is working properly

Matthew <\>

posted by Matthew at 10:01

Welcome to Saladdaze!

The latest iteration of my website – which remains an eclectic mix of information mostly about me

Matthew Knight <\>

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