THE “pomp and displays of wealth” following the Queen’s death will feel “a million miles away” from the lives of most people grappling with cost-of-living crisis, the Greens have said while blasting a sweeping statement a top Tory minister made about the cost of the late monarch’s funeral.
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan claimed on Sky News taxpayers would argue the cost of the funeral was “money well spent”, despite not being able to say how much the state event had cost.
But Green MSP Maggie Chapman rubbished the remark and insisted the UK Government must now find the “same determination” to help struggling families through the cost-of-living crisis as it has in putting on Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
Meanwhile, anti-monarchy pressure group Republic has said Donelan’s comments are symptomatic of the “unquestioning commentary” the public has been subjected to since the Queen’s passing on September 8.
The funeral on Monday included a service at Westminster Abbey attended by around 2000 people from across the world, before a separate committal service was held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
Chapman said: "The pomp, pageantry and displays of wealth we have seen over the last 10 days will feel a million miles away from the lives of many people who are suffering as a result of the cost-of-living crisis that has been inflicted from Westminster.
"This is one of the wealthiest societies in the world, yet hundreds of thousands of people are being plunged into poverty by cuts, austerity and skyrocketing bills.
"There is nothing inevitable about inequality or poverty. It is the result of political choices made in a system that prioritises corporate profits over wellbeing, and by successive UK governments that have known exactly what they are doing and the impact they are having.
"If Downing Street can find millions of pounds to celebrate a life very well lived then they must show the same determination to provide financial security and peace of mind for the millions of people who are being forced to choose between heating and eating."
The Scottish Greens boycotted a parliamentary session of fawning tributes to the Royal Family on Tuesday.
Co-leader Patrick Harvie told the new monarch that life isn’t “rooted in status or title” during a motion where party leaders paid tribute to the Queen in the Scottish Parliament last week.
He has said those who targeted him with “vile abuse” in the wake of his condolence message should “grow up".
When she was asked by Kay Burley how much the funeral had cost, Donelan said: “We haven’t got that total figure but I think the taxpayer would argue that it was money well spent.
“I always think of our late monarch as the glue that brought society together and communities together and in her final sort of act that’s exactly what she did and it was remarkable to see that on the ground.”
Graham Smith, CEO of Republic, said there are questions to be answered on whether the royal family could have contributed to the funeral themselves as he criticised the “fawning” in coverage of the event.
He added: “It’s very difficult to say something is worth the money when you can’t say how much it cost.
“It’s symptomatic of the fawning and unquestioning commentary that’s been going on for the last 10 days.
“I mean yes, it’s a state funeral, but there are scales of costs and there are questions over where Charles could have offered to pay for it himself.
“We are struggling to pay for our nurses and teachers and we are throwing hundreds of millions probably at a funeral he could’ve paid for himself – him or the royal family institution - or the cost could be shared. It’s a state funeral so we would pay some of it, I suppose, but the monarchy already get millions of pounds from us.
“Broadcasters have demonstrated a complete lack of impartiality. During the coverage throughout the last 10 days they have continued to suggest the country is mourning, which is not the case as most people have just been getting on with their lives.
“I’d also argue that in the queue and the crowd on Monday, these were not exceptional numbers of people and they do not represent the majority of people in the country.”
