Queen furious with Gordon Brown after she was not consulted on plans for patriotic oath

As a republican, I think this is very funny..

Gordon Brown was plunged into an embarrassing row with the Queen last night over plans for pupils to swear a patriotic oath.

The Mail on Sunday has been told by senior Royal sources that the Queen was angered by last week's controversial Government-commissioned report, which recommended school leavers should pledge an oath of allegiance – but not necessarily to the Monarch.

Mail on Sunday (yeah, I know...Nazi Mail)

Many republicans, like myself, wonder what Elizabeth thought of this and apparently she was not consulted after all. Which is strange and odd really.

Buckingham Palace are reporting she is extremely pissed off with Gordon (first time in history, the Monarch understands the public's same frustration)

Erm... well... this wasn't Gordon's suggestion. It was Lord Goldsmith's.

Despite the fact that it was a bad idea I don't think politicians should be publicly shamed for throwing a suggestion out for debate. The tabloids are a menace in this respect, and the Mail on Sunday rather helpfully illustrates my point (not only is their headline untrue, but it is also damaging to democracy). Just because the government commissions a report doesn't mean they automatically agree with the final result.

Is there any wonder why we see spin doctors and an apparent obsession with the 'media angle' when we see headlines like this? Liberate the papers from corporate ownership (let's cast off the Murdochs and Rothermeres of the media) and let them be truly independent and thought-provoking outlets.