英伦广角 Issue 111 英国是否要废除皇室？

The UN has said the UK must consider asking the public whether they would like to keep the Royal Family. The Human Rights Council say the government should certainly think about holding a referendum on the issue to see if people would prefer to live in a republican state with a written constitution. The monarchy¹ costs each adult in Britain around 62 pence a year. But even groups representing tax payers said there was no case for getting rid of it.

The council has 29 members including Saudi Arabia, Cuba and Sri Lanka. It was a Sri Lankan envoy² who raised concerns over the British monarchy. But a royal spokesman has said today that the public haven't displayed any appetite at all for a referendum on the issue.

The UN report was also critical of the UK's treatments of immigrants from Sudan. Syria accused the UK of discriminating against Muslims and Iran complained about the UK's record on tackling sexual discrimination

1 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

2 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。