Succession law

Blog posts about the succession law, and its implications for republicanism.

Succession changes: the New Zealander at the head of the working group

Submitted by LJ Holden on 18 December, 2011 - 22:09

The head of the working group on changing the monarchy's sexist and discriminatory succession law is New Zealand's Rebecca Kitteridge, the Cabinet Secretary and Clerk of the Executive Council.

Succession changes: official information rejection confirms monarchy isn't ours

Submitted by LJ Holden on 29 November, 2011 - 21:17

Prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth last month, British Prime Minister David Cameron wrote to our Prime Minister John Key, telling him that a meeting would be held at CHOGM of the member states which still have the Queen as head of state.

"Only blue bloods stand to gain"

Submitted by LJ Holden on 26 October, 2011 - 22:07

Brian Rudman writes in the New Zealand Herald:

Succession: another OIA request

Submitted by LJ Holden on 19 October, 2011 - 21:36

There has been some comment that our media statement - by supporters and opponents - on British Prime Minister David Cameron's proposals to amend the succession to the British Crown contained "misinformation".

Equal rights for females!

Submitted by LJ Holden on 10 October, 2011 - 20:58

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the succession debate could be reopened once more, with the Sovereign Grant Bill including a equality provision that will - gasp - make females equal to males.

Succession debate rages on: now Catholics get involved

Submitted by LJ Holden on 20 May, 2011 - 01:04

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, is calling for an end to discrimination towards Catholics by the monarchy, reports the BBC.

The Law of Succession to the Crown in New Zealand

Submitted by LJ Holden on 11 May, 2011 - 20:44

There's been a few loose statements that New Zealand can simply charge ahead and change its succession law without bothering to consult with other Commonwealth realms (Commonwealth members where the Queen is head of state). Noel Cox, former chairman of Monarchy New Zealand, wrote in 1999:

Key on Hardtalk

Submitted by LJ Holden on 10 May, 2011 - 18:32

Unsurprisingly, New Zealand's Prime Minister has told BBC's Hardtalk that he doesn't "...think New Zealand should be a republic, but my view is one day probably it will happen." Key has moved from saying that he thought a republic was inevitable but not

Easier to create a republic than change the succession law

Submitted by LJ Holden on 27 April, 2011 - 19:09

Professor George Williams, professor of law at the University of New South Wales, writes in the Sydney Morning Herald that changing the succession will be more difficult than creating an Australian republic.

Brian Rudman: "We don't care if they're male or female, Catholic or atheist."

Submitted by LJ Holden on 20 April, 2011 - 18:48

Brian Rudman writes in today's New Zealand Herald on the succession debate, unfortunately labelling England "the enemy" in the Rugby World Cup:

Keith Locke: it's easier to create a democratic head of state

Submitted by LJ Holden on 18 April, 2011 - 19:54

Keith Locke MP comments on the proposed changes to the succession law:

Locke says reforms in the area are well overdue, but wouldn't be straightforward. He suggests it might be simpler for New Zealand to have its own democratically-elected head of state.

One down, 14 to go

Submitted by LJ Holden on 9 March, 2011 - 21:34

The London Evening Standard reports the Prime Minister of the tiny Caribbean island state of St Lucia has agreed that the rules around the succession to the throne should be changed. Apparently New Zealand is behind the move - news to us.

MP urges William to back succession campaign

Submitted by LJ Holden on 5 March, 2011 - 07:31

UKPA reports that Labour MP Tristram Hunt is calling for Prince William to back changes to the succession law:

Official Information Act: succession response

Submitted by LJ Holden on 16 February, 2011 - 18:41

A month ago, we revealed that the New Zealand Government was in discussions with other Commonwealth members that still have the Queen as their head of state on the succession of the next monarch. It had been recorded on the Hansard for the House of Lords that "...discussions are proceeding under the chairmanship of the New Zealand Government and we will continue to keep the matter under consideration." We immediately sent an Official Information Act (OIA) request to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to find out exactly what was going on - and received their response in today's mail:

"New Zealand Ministers are not involved in chairing or leading any discussions about proposals to amend the Act of Settlement and the laws of succession. It is the case that officials in countries that have Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state are in regular contact with each other on a range of constitutional and related matters, including honours policy, royal commemorations and ceremonies, and domestic law relating to succession. This communication between officials is ongoing and part of business as usual."

Of course, this only encourages us to make another OIA request, this time asking for what, if anything, has been discussed by officials (as opposed to ministers). We don't see how discussions on the succession law (which has been in place in Great Britain since 1701) are part of "business as usual"; especially since a certain prince will be marrying his long-term partner soon.

Succession: Bill introduced into the Commons

Submitted by LJ Holden on 21 January, 2011 - 00:07

Keith Vaz, a member of the UK parliament for Leicester East, has moved a Bill in the House of Commons to amend the Act of Settlement 1701 to remove its discrimination against female heirs to the throne.

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