Yes, republicanism is a marginal, minority opinion in Britain, especially England, right now. I get the impulse of some on the left to take a “let’s pick our battles” attitude. But it won’t ever gain ground unless those who believe in it argue for it openly and consistently.
https://twitter.com/workersliberty/status/1380856326507671552
The monarchy is a key part of the ideological infrastructure of the state. It’s a feudal relic in some ways, but in others very much imbricated with contemporary capitalism. The British aristocracy managed to “bourgeoisify” itself more successfully than its counterparts.
I’m not into performative animus towards individual members of the ruling class (it’s a waste of energy, largely), but nor do I accept that it’s somehow distasteful or not appropriate to talk about the social institutions someone was part of in the wake of their death.
Scottish and Welsh nationalism and the Irish border issue are thrusting constitutional questions to the fore in British politics. The left should advance a republican programme (a unitary democratic republic with federal autonomy for the constituent nations, IMO).
TL/DR: Building support for republicanism requires the left to argue for it assertively, and not treat it like some quaint quirk or political subculture (“well, of course, *I’m* a republican... but that’s just me, I totally get that everyone else loves the monarchy, it’s fine!”).
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