So John Tanner would like to see the monarchy abolished (Oxford Mail letters, March 17).

He has the cheek to refer to our Queen as a lovely old lady who is deeply committed to her country but, in the same breath, questions whether an unelected aristocrat, as he calls her, has the right to decide who forms the next British Government.

Hang on a minute, I thought the electorate decided who governs the country.

The fact that Her Majesty is permitted to ask the leader of one of the parties to try to form a government if no one party has a majority in the House of Commons is just a tradition.

How often has there been a hung Parliament these days?

I think the views that Mr Tanner holds are those of a very tiny minority. I don’t begrudge my 60p a year towards keeping the Royal Family, a view I would like to think of the vast majority.

The British taxpayers have concerns over more pressing issues where our money is spent far more excessively than the £40m a year the monarchy costs.

Mr Tanner then goes on to say that the people can still enjoy the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace with a president to wave to them. Does he relish this position himself?

We have seen many of our traditions, sayings, even nursery rhymes, eroded in recent years by the PC Brigade, so as not to offend a minority. Our monarchy is one of our greatest traditions, so leave it alone.

With all due respect to Mr Tanner, may I suggest that he, as executive member for cleaner streets, concentrates on clearing up the rubbish, not spouting it.

Michael Clarke, Lewell Avenue, Old Marston, Oxford