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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Chris McCall

Labour 'cannot dodge' debate on the future of the monarchy following Queen's death

Labour party bosses have been told they "cannot dodge" a debate on the future of the monarchy following the death of Queen Elizabeth.

Keir Starmer and his frontbench team are firmly in favour of the Royal Family but support is thought to be less universal among grassroots members.

A fringe event - not endorsed by party bosses - will take place at next week's Labour conference at which attendees will be encouraged to express support for a future republic.

The meeting in Liverpool has been organised by a group calling itself Labour for a Republic (L4AR).

Nick Wall, L4AR chair, said: "The legitimate period of mourning has been used as a cloak to avoid any discussion about the accession.

"This is both coercive and insensitive. In a democracy, discussion about the Monarchy is not something that should be shut down, it is a healthy public debate that should be encouraged."

He added: "Labour’s values of democracy and equality, should be without exception. The monarchy is clearly at odds with Labour’s values and increasingly with the public’s too. If Labour’s leadership values our democracy this is an issue it cannot dodge ”

James Murray, shadow treasury minister, told Sky News: "It's a fringe event and not organised or endorsed by the Labour party.

"It's not the view of the party frontbench, myself, or Keir Starmer.

"What I have been doing this last week and a half, what Keir Starmer has been doing, and what the whole party has come together around, is showing our thanks for 70 years of service and devotion to duty to Queen Elizabeth."

He added: "What's important is that we are going to sing the national anthem at conference, and we are going to make clear that we are part of that unity, of coming together, and giving thanks to the life of Queen Elizabeth II."

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