English republicans
Supporters of republicanism in the United Kingdom—replacing the country's monarchy with a republic—typically favour an elected head of state to a constitutional monarch who heads the British royal family. == Individuals (living) == === Politicians (serving) === Jonathan Bartley, theologian and former co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales Natalie Bennett, peer and former co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales Richard Burgon, MP (Labour) Katy Clark, MSP (Scottish Labour), peer and former MP (Labour) Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development and former AM (Labour Co-op) Jeremy Corbyn, MP (former leader of the Labour Party) Mark Drakeford, MS (Welsh Labour), First Minister of Wales George Foulkes, peer, former MP and MSP (Labour, Scottish Labour) Rob Gibson, MSP (Scottish National Party) Christine Grahame, MSP (SNP) Nia Griffith, MP (Labour) John Griffiths, MS (Welsh Labour) Llyr Gruffydd, MS (Plaid Cymru) Peter Hain, peer and former MP (Labour) Patrick Harvie, MSP and co-leader of the Scottish Greens Elin Jones, MS (Plaid Cymru) and Llywydd (Presiding Officer) of Senedd Cymru Clive Lewis, MP (Labour) Caroline Lucas, MP and former co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales John McDonnell, MP (Labour) Paul McLennan, MSP (SNP) Lisa Nandy, MP (Labour) John Prescott, peer, former MP (Labour) and Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Ash Regan, MSP (SNP) Tommy Sheppard, MP (SNP) Ken Skates, MS (Welsh Labour) Andy Slaughter, MP (Labour) Cat Smith, MP (Labour) Dick Taverne, peer (Liberal Democrats) and former MP (Labour, Democratic Labour) Mercedes Villalba, MSP (Scottish Labour) Humza Yousaf, MSP (SNP) === Politicians (former) === Norman Baker, former MP (Liberal Democrats) John Biggs, former Labour mayor of Tower Hamlets Russell Brown, former MP (Labour) Ronnie Campbell, former MP (Labour) Michael Clapham, former MP (Labour) David Crausby, former MP (Labour) Roseanna Cunningham, former MSP (SNP) Ian Davidson, former MP (Labour) Ron Davies, former MP (Labour), Independent councillor and political activist (Plaid Cymru) Emma Dent Coad, former MP (Labour) Bill Etherington, former MP (Labour) Linda Fabiani, former MSP (SNP) Roger Godsiff, former MP (Labour) David Hanson, former MP (Labour) Roy Hattersley, former MP (Labour) and peer Derek Hatton, former deputy leader of Liverpool City Council (Labour) John Heppell, former MP (Labour) Kelvin Hopkins, former MP (Labour) Julian Huppert, former MP (Liberal Democrats) Brian Iddon, former MP (Labour) Lynne Jones, former MP (Labour) Rosie Kane, former MSP (Scottish Socialist Party) Ken Livingstone, former mayor of London and Labour MP Andrew MacKinlay, former MP (Labour) and councillor (Liberal Democrats) Denis MacShane, author and former MP (Labour) Magid Magid, former MEP (Green Party of England and Wales) and Lord Mayor of Sheffield David Marquand, academic, author and former MP (Labour) Bob Marshall-Andrews, barrister and former MP (Labour) John McAllion, former MP and MSP (Labour) Natalie McGarry, former MP (SNP and Independent) Jim McGovern, former MP (Labour) Ann McKechin, former MP (Labour) Chris Mullin, former MP (Labour) Doug Naysmith, former MP (Labour) Stephen Pound, former MP (Labour) Gordon Prentice, former MP (Labour) Murad Qureshi, former AM (Labour) Ken Ritchie, former Labour councillor, psephologist and founder of Labour for a Republic Phil Sawford, former MP (Labour) Bethan Sayed, former MS (Plaid Cymru) Jim Sillars, former MP (Labour and SNP) Dennis Skinner, former MP (Labour) Graham Watson, former MEP (Liberal Democrat) Sandra White, former MSP (SNP) Chris Williamson, former MP (Labour and Independent) Bill Wilson, former MSP (SNP) and political activist (Scottish Greens) Leanne Wood, former MS (former leader of Plaid Cymru) === Political activists === Tariq Ali, author and political activist Jamie Bevan, Welsh language activist Julie Bindel, writer and political activist Catherine Mayer, author and co-founder of the Women's Equality Party Alan McCombes, Scottish Socialist Party campaigner Gareth Miles, Welsh language activist Craig Murray, former diplomat and activist Mike Small, Scottish author and activist Peter Tatchell, gay rights campaigner Kevin Williamson, Scottish writer and activist === Political staff and advisors === Alastair Campbell, political strategist, journalist and author Philip Collins, journalist and former chief speechwriter to Tony Blair Andrew Fisher, political adviser and consultant Lance Price, writer, journalist and former political adviser to Tony Blair === Trade unionists === John Edmonds, former General Secretary of GMB Union Mick Lynch, General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) Arthur Scargill, former trade union leader, leader of the Socialist Labour Party === Journalists and non-fiction writers === Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, columnist for The Independent Jackie Ashley, journalist Julian Baggini, philosopher and writer Piers Brendon, historian and writer Emma Brockes, author and journalist Heather Brooke, journalist, writer and FOI activist Julie Burchill, writer and columnist Beatrix Campbell, journalist and author Nick Cohen, columnist for The Observer Michael Collins, writer and broadcaster Robert Crampton, journalist (The Times) Bill Emmott, former editor of The Economist Otto English, author and journalist Jonathan Freedland, journalist Roy Greenslade, journalist and academic Johann Hari, writer and journalist Lester Holloway, journalist and former councillor (Labour) Mick Hume, journalist Owen Jones, journalist Kitty Kelley, American journalist and author Simon Kelner, journalist and former editor of The Independent A. L. Kennedy, writer and academic Philippe Legrain, economist and writer Tim Lott, author Iain Macwhirter, political commentator Kevin Maguire, journalist Kenan Malik, writer, lecturer and broadcaster Andrew MacGregor Marshall, journalist Allegra McEvedy, chef and food writer Chris McLaughlin, journalist Suzanne Moore, journalist Tom Nairn, essayist Brendan O'Neill, journalist Susie Orbach, psychotherapist and writer Stephen Pollard, author and journalist Jay Rayner, food critic Brian Reade, Daily Mirror columnist Vicky Richardson, journalist Paul Routledge, Daily Mirror journalist Frances Ryan, journalist and political activist Ash Sarkar, journalist and political activist Miranda Sawyer, journalist Mark Seddon, journalist Will Self, journalist Joan Smith, novelist, journalist and human rights activist Polly Toynbee, columnist for The Guardian Janice Turner, journalist and columnist for The Times Francis Wheen, journalist, writer and broadcaster Andreas Whittam Smith, journalist (co-founder and first editor of The Independent) Peter Wilby, journalist Gary Younge, journalist === Novelists and fiction authors === Martin Amis, novelist Philippa Gregory, novelist Mark Haddon, novelist James Kelman, novelist and playwright Kathy Lette, novelist John Niven, screenwriter and author Caryl Phillips, novelist Philip Pullman, author Michèle Roberts, novelist and poet Sara Sheridan, author and historical novelist Zadie Smith, author Jonathan Trigell, author === Broadcasters === Simon Fanshawe, writer and broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, journalist and broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer, radio presenter and political journalist Anthony Holden, writer, broadcaster and critic Mark Kermode, film critic, journalist Paul Mason, political commentator and author Fiona Phillips, journalist and broadcaster Amol Rajan, journalist and broadcaster Matthew Wright, broadcaster and journalist === Business people === Dawn Airey, media executive and sports administrator Alan McGee, co-founder of Creation Records and Poptones Tim Waterstone, founder of Waterstones bookshops and author === Actors === Steve Coogan, actor and comedian Ben Dover, pornographic actor Christopher Eccleston Colin Firth Mark Gatiss, actor, comedian, screenwriter and novelist Glenda Jackson, actor and former MP (Labour) Margot Leicester, actor Mark McGann, actor, director, musician, writer Paul McGann Josh O'Connor Daniel Radcliffe Dougray Scott Michael Sheen Elaine C. Smith Samuel West, actor and director === Comedians === Frankie Boyle, comedian and writer Jo Brand Russell Brand, comedian, actor, campaigner Robin Ince, comedian, actor and writer Eddie Izzard, comedian, actor and writer Lloyd Langford Rob Newman John Oliver, actor and comedian, host of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Mark Steel Mark Thomas, comedian, author and activist Tracey Ullman, actor and comedian Henning Wehn === Singers, musicians and composers === James Dean Bradfield, lead vocalist and guitarist of the Manic Street Preachers Ray Burns (Captain Sensible), musician Mark 'Barney' Greenway, singer Paul Heaton, singer (The Beautiful South) Johnny Marr, musician, singer and songwriter (formerly of The Smiths) Sean Moore, musician (Manic Street Preachers) Morrissey, singer-songwriter and author (formerly of The Smiths) Craig Reid, musician (The Proclaimers) Charlie Reid, musician (The Proclaimers) Paul Simonon, musician (formerly of The Clash) Robert Smith, musician (The Cure) Nicky Wire, musician (Manic Street Preachers) === Artists === Steve Bell, cartoonist Peter Fluck, caricaturist and satirist Mark McGowan, performance artist known as Chunky Mark and The Artist Taxi Driver Ralph Steadman, cartoonist === Theatre and film directors === John Boorman, film director Danny Boyle, Academy Award-winning film director Richard Eyre, theatre and film director Stephen Frears, film director and producer Paul Greengrass, film director and screenwriter Mike Leigh, writer and director of film and theatre Ken Loach, film and television director === Screenwriters and playwrights === Jon Canter, television comedy writer Maureen Chadwick, screenwriter, dramatist and television producer Michael Frayn, author and playwright David Hare, playwright Julia Pascal, playwright and theatre director === Poets === Mike Jenkins Patrick Jones, poet, playwright and filmmaker Liz Lochhead, Makar (National Poet for Scotland) and essayist Sean O'Brien, poet and critic Michael Rosen, novelist and poet Luke Wright Benjamin Zephaniah === Sportspeople === Joey Barton, football manager and former footballer Stan Collymore, former footballer Frankie Dettori, Italian jockey Brian Moore, former rugby union player === Legal professionals === Louise Christian, human rights lawyer Imran Khan, lawyer Michael Mansfield, QC Geoffrey Robertson, QC Clive Stafford Smith, lawyer and human rights campaigner === Academics === Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist and writer Gregor Gall, writer and academic Ted Honderich, academic and philosopher Laura McAllister, Professor of Public Policy and the Governance of Wales at the Wales Governance Centre, Cardiff University Steven Rose, scientist and writer Quentin Skinner, academic and historian Adam Tomkins, academic and former MSP (Scottish Conservatives) Nigel Warburton, academic and philosopher === Religious figures === Pete Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden == Individuals (deceased) == === Politicians === Tony Banks (1942–2006), MP and peer (Labour) Tony Benn (1925–2014), MP (Labour) Charles Bradlaugh (1833–1891), MP (Liberal) George Buchanan (1890–1955), MP (Labour) William Cluse (1875–1955), MP (Labour) Richard Crossman (1907–1974), MP (Labour) and editor of the New Statesman Donald Dewar (1937–2000), Scottish Labour politician and First Minister of Scotland Sir Charles Dilke (1843–1911), MP (Liberal) Jack Dormand (1919–2003), MP and peer (Labour) Raymond Fletcher (1921–1991), MP (Labour) Paul Flynn (1935–2019), MP (Labour) Michael Foot (1913–2010), MP (Labour) and Leader of the Opposition Willie Gallacher (1881–1965), MP (Communist Party of Great Britain) Arthur Greenwood (1880–1954), MP (Labour) Willie Hamilton (1917–2000), MP (Labour) George Hardie (1873–1937), MP (Labour) Keir Hardie (1856–1915), MP and founder of the Labour Party Emrys Hughes (1894 –1969), MP (Labour) and journalist William Keenan (1889–1955), MP (Labour) George Lansbury (1859–1940), MP (Labour) and Leader of the Opposition Margo MacDonald (1943–2014), MP and MSP (SNP) James Maxton (1885–1946), MP (Independent Labour Party) Valentine McEntee (1871–1953), MP (Labour) John McGovern (1887–1968), MP (Labour) Kevin McNamara (1934–2017), MP (Labour) Michael Meacher (1939–2015), MP (Labour) John Stuart Mill (1806–1873), MP (Liberal), philosopher and political economist Peter Mond, 4th Baron Melchett (1948–2018), life peer (Labour) and campaigner Mo Mowlam (1949–2005), MP (Labour) and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Stan Orme (1923–2005), MP (Labour) Gwilym Prys-Davies (1923–2017), peer (Labour) Richard Rogers (1933–2021), peer (Labour) and architect Alfred Salter (1873–1945), MP (Labour), 1925–45 Nancy Seear (1913–1997), peer and social scientist (Liberal, then Liberal Democrats) Algernon Sidney (1623–1683), English politician and political theorist Campbell Stephen (1884–1947), MP (Independent Labour Party) Ernest Thurtle (1884–1954), MP (Labour) Kay Ullrich (1943–2021), MSP (SNP) Benjamin Vaughan (1751–1835), political economist and MP === Political activists and social reformers === Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832), philosopher, jurist and social reformer Julian Cayo-Evans (1937–1995), Welsh political activist and leader of the Free Wales Army Dennis Coslett (1939–2004), Welsh political activist (Free Wales Army) and author George William Foote (1850–1915), secularist and journal editor; secretary of the London Republican Club (1870) and National Republican League (1871) John Frost (1750–1842), English radical Stephen Maxwell (1942–2012), SNP activist Trefor Morgan (1914–1970), Welsh nationalist activist Thomas Muir of Huntershill (1765–1799), Scottish political reformer Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797), feminist writer and philosopher === Journalists, authors and writers === J. G. Ballard (1930–2009), novelist William Blake (1757–1827), writer and artist Robert Burns (1759–1796), poet and lyricist Carmen Callil (1938–2022), writer and publisher John Cole (1927–2013), BBC political editor Thomas Davison (1794–1826), journalist and publisher A. A. Gill (1954–2016), journalist and critic Thomas Gordon (c.
4 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
Mary Wollstonecraft
Melvyn Bragg and guests John Mullan, Karen O'Brien and Barbara Taylor discuss the life and ideas of the pioneering British Enlightenment thinker Mary Wollstonecraft.
31 December 2009
Featuring: Karen O'Brien, John Mullan, Barbara Taylor
PhilosophyEnglish travel writersFeminist theorists18th-century British essayists18th-century English novelistsHistorians of the French RevolutionEnglish women philosophersFrench–English translatorsWriters of Gothic fictionEnglish feminist writers, English feministsBurials at St Pancras Old ChurchBritish philosophers of educationGodwin familyBritish women essayists18th-century British philosophersEnglish philosophersDeaths in childbirthGerman–English translatorsPeople from Somers Town, LondonEnglish UnitariansFounders of English schools and collegesEnglish essayistsEnlightenment philosophersEnglish educational theorists18th-century English historiansEnglish republicansScholars of feminist philosophyEnglish women novelistsMill
Melvyn Bragg discusses the 19th century political philosopher John Stuart Mill and his treatise On Liberty which is one of the sacred texts of liberalism.
18 May 2006
Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Janet Radcliffe Richards, Alan Ryan
PhilosophyBritish political philosophersHonorary Fellows of the Royal Society of EdinburghEnglish libertariansBritish philosophers of languageConsequentialistsInfectious disease deaths in FranceEnglish socialistsUtilitariansEnglish suffragistsTheorists on Western civilizationBritish ethicistsBritish socialistsEnglish political writersLogiciansEnglish feminist writers, English feministsBritish free speech activistsPhilosophers of sexualityPhilosophy writersBritish classical liberal economistsPhilosophers of economicsBritish social liberals19th-century English non-fiction writersFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of cultureRectors of the University of St AndrewsPhilosophers of psychologyBritish philosophers of mindEnglish logicians19th-century English philosophersBritish philosophers of logicEnglish autobiographersAnglo-ScotsUK MPs 1865–1868Empiricists19th-century English writersVoting theoristsEuropean democratic socialistsEnglish essayistsEnglish political philosophers19th-century English essayistsEnglish male non-fiction writersEnglish non-fiction writersPhilosophers of scienceEnglish people of Scottish descentPhilosophers of historyEnglish republicansScholars of feminist philosophyEnglish agnosticsBritish male essayistsMilton
Melvyn Bragg examines the literary and political career of the 17th century poet John Milton, examining work such as Paradise Lost as well as his role as propagandist during the English Civil War.
7 March 2002
Featuring: John Carey, Lisa Jardine, Blair Worden
Mythopoeic writersChristian humanistsBlind writersEnglish male dramatists and playwrightsPeople from the City of LondonLiteracy and society theorists17th-century English dramatists and playwrights17th-century English philosophersEnglish writers with disabilitiesBritish philosophers of religionPamphleteersNeoclassical writersRhetoriciansBritish free speech activistsEpic poetsChristian poetsSocial philosophersMale essayistsAnglican poetsDeaths from kidney failure in the United KingdomMetaphor theoristsEnglish DissentersRhetoric theoristsAlumni of Christ's College, Cambridge17th-century writers in LatinLiterary theoristsCritics of the Catholic ChurchEnglish male poets17th-century English writersEnglish theologians17th-century English poetsEnglish Anglican theologiansWriters from LondonAnti-Catholicism in the United KingdomBlind poetsCalvinist and Reformed poetsSonneteersAnglican philosophers17th-century English educatorsEnglish essayistsEnglish political philosophersEnlightenment philosophersEnglish educational theoristsWriters about activism and social changeEnglish non-fiction writersEnglish republicans17th-century English male writersThomas Paine's Common Sense
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Thomas Paine's pamphlet Common Sense, which was published in 1776 and bolstered support for American independence.
21 January 2016
Featuring: Kathleen Burk, Nicholas Guyatt, Peter Thompson
History19th-century American writersEnglish libertarians19th-century American philosophersBritish deistsDeputies to the French National Convention18th-century philosophersAmerican male non-fiction writersClassical liberalismTheorists on Western civilizationAmerican deists19th-century male writersRadicalsSocial philosophers18th-century English writersAmerican political philosophers18th-century English peoplePolitical activists from PennsylvaniaNaturalized citizens of France18th-century American male writers, American foreign policy writersAmerican philosophers of cultureUniversal basic income writersHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesAmerican philosophers of religionCritics of Judaism19th-century English writersDeist philosophersAmerican nationalists, American religious skepticsMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyEnlightenment philosophersEnglish inventorsWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of historyEnglish republicans18th-century American writers, Founding Fathers of the United States, People of the American EnlightenmentAnti-monarchists18th-century English male writersAmerican philosophers of education