As a self-converted Republican, who comes from a split family, between former miners who were part of the Labour movement on my father’s side and those of a Royalist, Tory bent on my mother’s side as well as a part of the world, fiercely loyal to the Royal Family - I must admit something that I think many a Republican would not want to admit in public.
I’m anxious and concerned about where we are as a country and a society when the Queen shuffles off this mortal coil.
I think in part its because we have a government in place currently which is very much of the opinion that a very narrow strain of English Nationalism is the way to go - contrary to their wishes of wanting to unify all (!) - whilst to the North and to the West of us, it is very much up for debate whether Scotland and Northern Ireland will be part of any such union at that particular moment. Elections in both countries in the upcoming 12 to 18 months will absolutely influence that - and certainly in the case of Scotland, with upwards of 70% support for Independence amongst 18 to 34 year olds, the Union in its current form does seem to be on borrowed time.
Thankfully this week, we have not seen any tub-thumping speeches from the current incumbent of the office of Number 10 - however when the Queen does go - there is going to be a power vacuum, and that is where my fears are - perhaps I haven’t explained myself that well.
