SOMETHING TO BRAGG ABOUT?

Last time I saw Billy Bragg he was in fine form at a rousing rally in support of Remploy workers at Labour Party Conference. So, something of a surprise to see this lifelong socialist not only meeting the Queen ( hey, it can happen to anyone) but defending the Monarchy as an institution in today's Daily Mail. Bragg's argument is basically that the Queen is a nice old girl (I'm sure she is) and that it would be OK to keep the Monarchy as some kind of symbolic figurehead as long as we stop nonsense like the State Opening of Parliament and abolish the House of Lords. He hasn't much time for Charles (who has) but says he doesn't want to be pigeonholed as some "stereotypical leftie" and even stopped Red Wedge coming out in favour of republicanism.Methinks he doth protest too much.

The Monarchy, and all it represents, should surely be anathema to anyone who believes in an egalitarian society. All that bowing and scraping, all that taxpayer's money funding lifestyles of incredible indulgence, all part of a class system which has oppressed the working-class for centuries. What it represents fostered hundreds of years of violence in Ireland, encouraged millions of young men to go to their deaths in World War 1, and frankly is something for which there is no place in a socialist society. I acept there are other issues which are maybe more to the forefront in the endless struggle for social justice. But writing apologias for the Queen in the most perniciously right-wing of the tabloids is not an action guaranteed to win more hearts and minds. Indeed, it only serves to give the Royals more cred. Not your finest hour, Billy.

DIANA - THE TRUE STORY

As the faithful gather to mark the 10th anniversary of Diana's tragic demise with a memorial service, some thoughts on that day. I remember it well as I was travelling back from Edinburgh to Glasgow having spent the night crashed out on someone's floor for the last night of the Festival.

At Waverley station, early morning editions of the papers were already in circulation. They proclaimed that Dodi Fayed was dead and Diana badly injured. By the time we got to Glasgow, the news had been confirmed that she was dead. Even for Republicans, this was not a cause for celebration. I remember feeling very sorry for her two small sons - and obviously any life cut short so horrifically and meaninglessly is to be regretted. Then came the hysteria.

Ten years on, things are a lot more muted but, predictably, the whole thing has been hijacked by the gossip columnists. It was probably right that Camilla opted out - a front-row seat was hardly appropriate in the circumstances.

But , basically, how is it that we as members of the Labour Party never seem to take up the far more important cause of getting rid of this absurd royal anachronism in the first place.?

Willie Hamilton aside, the last person associated with the Government to even whisper Republican sympathies was the late Mo Mowlam. Today, Blair, Major and of course Brown will be putting on their most solemn of faces and bowing and scraping along with everyone else. Cliff and Elton are in tow along with a bunch of other aristos and no doubt there will be blanket coverage obn the TV. But for how many years longer?

When i was a child in the 1960's the Royal Family were still held in high regard by the vast majority of working people ( my parents got in serious trouble when they wouldn't fly a union flag for the Silver Jubilee in 1977) . Are they still? I think probably not.

The encouraging thing if you have no time for this last bastion of feudalism is that the "Royals" have certainly plummeted in popularity terms in recent years. Diana ( who I came across a couple of times as a cub reporter) was their most glamorous possible icon and could render hardened male news reporters speechless with her undoubted charisma.

Once the Queen shuffles off, my guess is things may change. The thought of King Charles 111 on the throne should convert a fair few waverers - but probably not enough to put an end to the monarchy in my lifetime.