Former Liberal Democrat minister Norman Baker has called on the Prime Minister to block a planned £100 million increase to the Sovereign Grant, describing the proposal as a "rip-off". Writing for The Mirror, Baker, a firm critic of the royals, questioned why taxpayers should fund another inflation-busting handout to the royal family.
Sovereign Grant set to rise from £31m to £100m
Baker noted that the Sovereign Grant stood at £31 million in 2011 and, if raised in line with inflation, would now cost about £45 million. Instead, the government proposes on Tuesday evening to increase it to £100 million.
In total, including unique tax breaks, Baker said the monarchy now costs around half a billion pounds every year, more than ten times the cost of the next most expensive European monarchy, the Dutch. He added that King Charles has personally amassed a vast fortune.
Buckingham Palace upgrade and ticket revenue questioned
Baker also highlighted that £369 million has already been spent on a gold-plated upgrade of Buckingham Palace, with the royals contributing nothing. He criticised the King's decision to treat millions of pounds from tourist ticket sales as "private" income, asking why that money is not being paid to the Treasury, and noted the King has said he does not want to live there.
Baker accused government whips of cynically arranging the vote on the £100 million to take place very late on the first day parliament returns, next Tuesday, in an attempt to minimise the number of MPs attending.
Call for annual votes and FOI reform
Acknowledging some early moves by Andy Burnham, such as cutting bus fares and ending VAT on energy bills, Baker said the planned handout was arranged before he entered No10. He urged the PM to pull the vote on Monday and block any further increase until there has been a comprehensive examination of all aspects of royal financing.
Baker called for a return to annual votes by MPs on royal funding, noting there has been no MP involvement since 2011, and for an end to the royal exemption from the Freedom of Information Act. He concluded by asking whether the Prime Minister, who is standing up to the Russians, has the guts to stand up to the greedy royals, or will cave in to their demands as every Prime Minister since 2011 has done.
