Is it time to rephrase our goal of abolishing the monarchy?

Words are powerful. We can make the idea of abolishing the monarchy seem less aggressive and more constructive by presenting it as part of a broader, forward-looking constitutional reform conversation. Here’s how to do that:

1. Reframe the goal

Instead of saying “abolish the monarchy”, we can use phrases that focus on democratic renewal and modernisation, such as:

“Modernising the constitution for a 21st-century democracy”

“Ensuring all public offices are accountable and democratic”

“Revisiting how we define constitutional leadership and national unity”

This frames it as an evolution rather than a revolution. For the Greens, this fits in with Zack Polanski’s vision of bold politics.

2. Place it within a larger reform agenda

We can make the monarchy just one part of a bigger package of constitutional improvements. For example:

“As part of a wider review of how power and accountability work in our country — from Parliament to the courts to the head of state — we believe it’s time to consider modern, democratic alternatives to hereditary institutions.”

This makes it sound thoughtful, procedural, and inclusive — not targeted or hostile.

3. Use language of inclusion and national renewal

We can avoid “us vs. them” or “anti-monarchy” language. Language that appeals to shared values may help:

“Building a constitution that reflects today’s Britain”

“A respectful, democratic conversation about our future institutions”

“Honouring our history while designing a fairer system for future generations”

This signals respect for tradition while opening the door to change.

4. Emphasise process and consultation

Rather than announcing an outcome (abolition), we can highlight the process:

“We propose a citizen-led constitutional convention to examine how our democracy could evolve — including the role of the head of state.”

That makes it sound open-minded and democratic rather than prescriptive.

5. Use precedents and international examples

We can refer to other stable, respected democracies that reformed or replaced monarchies peacefully — for instance, Ireland, Germany, or Iceland — to normalise the idea:

“Many European countries have successfully transitioned to constitutional systems that maintain stability and national identity without hereditary leadership.”

That removes the sense of radicalism and eases fears of any US-style president model. We can be honest if asked about what that means for the monarchy but by then, we would have set the context.

Instead of “abolish the monarchy”, we can say, “as part of a broader constitutional renewal, we should explore democratic alternatives to hereditary power to ensure our institutions reflect modern values.”

That might be a bit of a mouth full but this reframing can slowly but surely help the don’t-knows and soft monarchists accept the change we all want.