Royal Family Budget Cuts

I acknowledge that the Royal Family plays an important role in public life. I believe the Royal Family should not be exempt from scrutiny, particularly when it comes to public funding.

The Liberal Democrats have always been committed to improving our democracy and making it more representative, in democratic reforms such as proportional representation, extending the right to vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, and reforming the House of Lords.

Regarding royal funding, I believe that transparency is essential. While the Royal Household’s budget is increasing, largely due to the Crown Estate’s investment in offshore wind farms, the proportion of profits from the Crown Estate going towards the monarchy’s funding will be significantly reduced in the future. This shift is an important development, but I do understand the concerns regarding the increasing cost.

Taxpayers’ money must be used effectively. The Liberal Democrats advocate for greater transparency in government spending, which includes the Sovereign Grant that funds the monarchy. Public funding of the monarchy should be carefully managed; thus, I will continue to urge the government to ensure that the percentage of profits from the Crown Estate is used to fund the monarchy in a fair and justified way.