Republic Annual Conference

The fundamental shape of the British constitution has changed little in the last 200 years. Power remains in the centre and at the top, vested in parliament and the Crown.

The British people continue to be denied an accountable head of state who can play a meaningful role in our political life - and the government continues to use royal powers to sign treaties, wage war and assault our liberties without proper democratic scrutiny.

In the wake of the expenses scandal, politicians have appropriated the language of "democratic renewal" yet we've barely moved one inch forward toward a more democratic political system.

Although there have been periodic attempts at making the monarchy "fairer", cheaper or more transparent, constitutional reformers have all too often shied away from the issue of the monarchy - for fear of scaring off politicians or offending an allegedly pro-royal public.

No longer can politicians and campaigners ignore the monarchy. Republic's 2010 Annual Conference will make the case for a revolution in the reform movement.