Corbyn declines to meet the Queen.

Well done tigger for pulling this thread back to it's origins. You are right that the title of this thread is totally misleading and sounds like something out of the worst of the right-wing press. Perhaps we should start one saying "Jeremy Corbyn will join Privy Council" and leave this one to those interested in roses?

Sadly Jen although they seem to be putting forward some of Labour's good ideas in some cases they are tending to use them for a front to attack the very people they were intended to help.

Listening to Money Box they were saying that the Cambourne government intends to loosen money laundering laws for banks. That's more money for the thieving rich and less for the old, vulnerable and the striving worker - standard Conservative policy then.

Roses, it does matter because a lot of other ideas come along with those ideas, like making the poor poorer, destroying the NHS and education, the EU referendum but only after Cameron has done another PR exercise.

Crossed posts, Gracesgran.

No matter what this government chooses to do the outcome is assured, the wealthier in the country will get wealthier and the poorest will sink further into poverty plus their numbers will increase

If the Queen made over some of her many properties to the homeless, including refugees, rather than letting toffs have rent free "Grace & Favour" residencies, then I might be more likely to question my republican tendencies. Why should Jeremy Corbyn bend the knee to the descendant of families that became powerful because they were cleverer ( although I doubt that) more ruthless, luckier, grabbier, better endowed physically, than my peasanty ancestors?

rosesarered: ok smartie pants, yes I meant thread - happy now

Sorry to be picky, ab (actually I'm not, I'm just trying to be polite; what you said is 'highlighted'), but there is nothing inaccurate in saying Corbyn was sorry Bin Laden had been killed. He was sorry and he gave his reason why. OK, perhaps some of the press didn't mention why but the press I read did.
He said he was sorry Bin Laden had been killed not sent to trial , this has become - Corbyn was sorry Bin Laden had been killed

Also, it's not unreasonable to describe refusing to be sworn in as a snub to the queen. She probably doesn't care but it is a snub. I think I'd call it a snub to protocol. He's entitled to snub whatever he likes. Free country and all that but a snub is a snub.
He is against heredity monarchy like many are but this has become Corbyn snubs the queen

Just saying.

By the way, at the time of Bin Laden's death, I felt exactly the same about it being a pity he wasn't put on trial, as I'm sure many other people did.

Actually David Cameron was elected leader of the party on December 6th and was approved to the Privy Council on 14th. He attended an emergency meeting a week later. However, the first scheduled meeting was not until February 14th which he did not attend so he was eventually sworn in on March 8th - three months after he became leader. This is not unusual so can't see what all the fuss is about tbh - other than the right wing papers wanting to slag Jeremy Corbyn off because they are scared that Labour might win the next election with some one who actually has principles being in charge.

The left-wing press does a fair amount of 'slagging off' too. Which, of course, it's perfectly entitled to do. I do wish people would stop complaining. Where free speech exists one will hear things one doesn't like or that one doesn't agree with or that one thinks unfair all the time. If one 'reads around' one gets a more rounded picture of current affairs. Well, I do. I think there has been as much support for Corbyn as criticism.

thatbag, when did Corbyn refuse to be sworn in ? he was unable to attend a meeting because of a prior engagement, you think he should dismiss his prior engagement ? This would be a snub - sorry have to cancel have a chance to meet the queen .

Being a republican is not snubbing the queen, that's silly , being a republican means believing in a democracy where the people elect their head of state

Being a republican is fine. Refusing to accept that we have a Head of State who isn't elected is just silly. Just a minute - didn't he have to swear allegiance to Her Majesty when he became an MP?

When did this happen Lilygran?

I should have said refusing to meet the queen because of a prior engagement, ab. You are quite right.

Time will tell whether he ever gets sworn in. I believe it is not essential but he won't be informed of certain information is he isn't.

My point was really that I wonder why people complain when the right-wing press sees the worst in a left-wing leader when the left-wing press naturally and outspokenly sees the worst in right-wing leaders. Isn't this what we would expect? Shouldn't we just counter it if it bothers us? Isn't that what defenders of Corbyn are doing? It's not as if what he does and says isn't reported by both sides and from the middle ground.

Sworn in to Privy Council.

I think lily may be referring to the oath of allegiance that all MPs have to take. From Wiki: Until the oath or affirmation is taken, an MP may not receive a salary, take their seat, speak in debates or vote. The usual wording of the oath is: I... swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.

I wouldn't be able to do it with those exact words as gods don"t feature in my life. Is there an alternative for godless folk?

"according to law" is the nub. If it is law that the head of state is an unelected sovereign, then at that time he would have sworn allegiance to abide by the law. If the law changes n future, he won't have to.

I can't imagine that he didn't swear and get his salary and speaking and voting rights.

Alternatively, also under the Oaths Act 1978, Members may make a solemn affirmation instead of taking an oath, using the words:

I (name of Member) do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law.

So perhaps the whole business about Corbyn being sworn in to the Privy Council is the media playing uproar? I remember the Sinn Fein MPs elected to Westminster refused to take the oath, couldn't take their seats and didn't get paid. I wonder what they do at Stormont?

Sorry but I still disagree, he was unable to meet the queen because of a prior engagement

Has no one watched the swearing in of MP's over the years many say the oath and cross their fingers at the same time, one could say it's a tradition

MP's have a choice ,they do not have to swear to God, they choose a bible, no bible, Koran, Hebrew Bible. Tony Benn when sworn in said - as a committed republican , under protest, I take the oath require of me by law,

If 500 are members of the Privy Councilhow could any member who didn't attend a meeting not be informed of what was said. It is just a tradition with no teeth

Annie you are full of little nuggets of history. I didn't know that about Tony Benn.

They will make it possible for him. That is why we have not got round beheading monarchs and creating a republic. If we ever get to the point of becoming a republic it will all be done with the grace which has allowed us to move from monarch to constitutional monarch in the past.

Here is a link for all those who want to find out more. The article starts:

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will join the Privy Council despite missing its first meeting since his appointment.

It would have been the first chance for the Labour leader, a life-long republican, to be sworn in to the historic group which advises mon"archs.

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said he was unable to attend due to "other commitments".

Labour said it was not a snub and pointed out David Cameron took three months to be sworn in to the council.

Such a storm in a tea-cup but when 80% of the press is right wing you do have to do your own audit of what they publish.

I don't think that statistic holds on GN , at least not amongst the talkative GNers

Oh! I didn't know I'd done a wink. Scatbrain.