Could Prince William or A.N. Other inherit crown?

	Notices of Amendments
	given on
	Wednesday 19 December 2012
	Succession To The Crown Bill
	Paul Flynn
		1
	Clause 1, page 1, line 2, leave out ‘born after 28 October 2011’ and insert
	‘whenever born’.

Could Prince William or A.N. Other become Head of State?

Only about once every 3 centuries does the Government propose changes of succession to the job of head of state. I have tabled new clauses to the bill that will be considered later this month. I have also tabled an Early Day Motion urging extra time to debate the bill. The Government plan to rush it through both Houses of Parliament in one day. Such a rare change merits thorough debate.

My clauses seek a referendum at the demise of the present Queen (by death or abdication). Prince Charles, Prince William or Citizen A.N.Other could offer themselves as candidates. The suggested questions for the referendum are below.

There is probably a substantial body of opinion including many royalists who believe that Charles would be an unsuitable Head of State because of his personality and his constant interference in affairs of state.This conduct as Head of State could imperil the future of the monarchy. Many would prefer to skip a generation and allow Prince William to inherit the job. Republicans would argue for other candidates to be considered by the electorate.

Acceptance of the new clause would reform the succession on democratic lines -fit for the 21st century.

	Notices of Amendments
	given on
	Tuesday 8 January 2013
	Succession To The Crown Bill
		Holding of referendum
	Paul Flynn
	To move the following Clause:—
		‘(1) A referendum shall be held on the question whether on the next demise of the
		Crown (whether by death or abdication) any person should succeed Her Majesty
		Queen Elizabeth the Second as Sovereign and Head of State of the United
		Kingdom.
		(2) A referendum shall be held at the same time as that to be held under subsection
		(1) above on the question as to how any future head of state of the United
		Kingdom should be elected in the event of Parliament determining that no person
		shall succeed Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.
		(3) The questions to be asked in the referendums shall be in the form set out in the
		Schedule to this Act.’.
		Those entitled to vote in referendum
	To move the following Clause:—
		‘Those entitled to vote in the referendum shall be—
		(a) the persons who, at the date of the referendum, would be entitled to vote
		as electors at a parliamentary election in any constituency; and
		(b) peers who, at the date of the referendum, would be entitled to vote as
		electors at a local government election in any area.’.
	To move the following Schedule:—
		‘Form of Ballot Paper
		Parliament has voted to hold referendums simultaneously on the questions of
		whether—
		(a) any person should succeed Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth as Sovereign
		and Head of State; and
		(b) whether, in the event of Parliament deciding to end the role of the
		Crown as Head of State of the United Kingdom, future heads of state
		should be elected by Members of both Houses of Parliament or by popular vote.
		You may choose to answer either or both of the questions printed below. If
		you answer only one question, your vote will still be counted.
		The questions are—
		1. DO YOU AGREE THAT ON THE DEATH OR ABDICATION
		OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH NO-ONE SHOULD
		SUCCEED HER AS SOVEREIGN AND HEAD OF STATE,
		AND THAT FUTURE HEADS OF STATE OF THE UNITED
		KINGDOM SHOULD BE ELECTED?
		YES
		NO
		2. IF FUTURE HEADS OF STATE OF THIS COUNTRY WERE TO
		BE ELECTED, DO YOU THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE
		ELECTED BY—
		A. MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT?
		OR
		B. POPULAR VOTE?’.