MEMBERS of Parliament will no longer have to swear allegiance to the Queen under constitutional reforms put forward by one of Gordon Brown’s closest advisers.The blueprint, produced by the Prime Minister’s special adviser Michael Jacobs, would also turn the British into “citizens,” rather than “subjects,” and could even spell the end for our national anthem.
Downing Street last night distanced itself from the controversial ideas, saying there were no plans to adopt them. A spokesman said Mr Jacobs advised the Prime Minister on environmental issues rather than constitutional affairs.But critics pointed out that Mr Brown had already moved quickly to adopt key parts of the Jacobs plan, including ending the Royal Prerogative and having the Government’s programme laid out by the Prime Minister in the Commons rather than the Queen at the annual state opening of Parliament.Royal sources said the Queen was already alarmed by the pace of change under the Brown regime.
Royal historian Kenneth Rose, a close friend of the late Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, said there was “a constant pushing of the boundaries of what the Government does and what it deems the Queen doesn’t need to do”.He added: “All these things treat the Queen with a certain disrespect. It’s offensive to the Queen and it’s intended to be so. She’ll be furious.
”Mr Rose said the changes would also cause the Queen to fear for the future of the Royal Family. “She realises that people will say ‘If the Queen has no constitutional duties, why should she have constitutional privileges?’”Tory MP Mark Pritchard said there were growing signs of “creeping republicanism” within the Brown Government.
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