A former chaplain to the Queen has delivered a sermon calling for Britain to have an elected monarchy.

Canon Eric James believes that excessive media attention on the Royal Family and the possible abolition of hereditary peers in the House of Lords mean that the monarchy cannot stay as it is.

Andrew Puddephatt and Lord St John of Fawsley hold very different opinions (5'16")

The canon expanded his views during a sermon at Westminster Abbey on Thursday.

The campaigning group Charter 88 believes the only practical way of solving the debate is to let the public vote on the matter. It advocates a referendum.

Charter 88's Andrew Puddephatt wants a referendum

Spokesman Andrew Puddephatt said the canon may be trying to restore public confidence in the monarchy. "By putting it to some kind of vote he may believe people's faith in the institution will be restored," he said.

Constitutional expert Lord St John of Fawsley said an elected monarchy would be a disaster because it would mean a monarchy dominated by politicians.

He added: "It wouldn't be a free choice of the people. We would lose a natural advantage which is to have a power in the state which is above party politics and represents the nation, and can be called in during an emergency.

"We can't escape our history and one of the great advantages of history is the monarchy. The monarchy in its present form has to change otherwise it would be a museum piece, but it links us with the whole of our history."

Lord St John of Fawsley warns of disaster

He said the issue of constitutional reforms made by the government should be kept separate from those concerning the monarchy.

"The House of Lords is absolutely involved in the party political process in a way which the Queen isn't. She is above party politics."

But Mr Puddephatt thinks it will be unavoidable. "It will be very difficult to insulate the Royal Family from this kind of discussion once the hereditary peers in the House of Lords have been abolished," he said.

"We will retain a hereditary element in our politics and in our law-making process and people are bound to ask questions about that."
 

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