Labour slammed over ‘grotesque attack’ on Royal Family in major snub | Politics | News

Critics slam grotesque attack on Monarchy (Image: Getty)
Labour has scrapped the use of “His Majesty” from official Government communications in a move blasted by critics as disrespectful to Britain’s history. Ministers quietly ditched the term without making a public announcement, replacing it with “UK Government” across all official branding.
The sly change was made without consultation or explanation and has raised serious questions about Labour’s attitude towards the monarchy and traditions that opposition figures say underpin British public life. Alex Burghart MP, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said that the move was “typical” of Labour who he accused of “trying to quietly obliterate tradition”.
He added: “What earthly good is caused by this change? It’s just another depressing attempt to ‘modernise’ for modernisation’s sake. Be in no doubt: the Conservatives will reverse this on day one.” Ministers only confessed to the change after Mike Wood MP, a Shadow Cabinet Office Minster, forced them to come clean in a written parliamentary question.
Labour’s Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Paymaster General, confirmed: “A strategic decision has been made to adopt ‘UK Government’ as the primary identity for all public-facing communications.”
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Veteran Conservative MP, Sir Desmond Swayne that “nothing surprises me about this rabble” adding that he would urge “all loyal subjects to respond by using the title ever more often”.
Previous governments ensured that official guidance made it clear that documents referred to “HM Government” and described it as “recognised and trusted by the public”. That guidance insisted the HM Government identity must “must be applied correctly and consistently” across all public-facing campaigns.
But new rules issued by Labour last year have binned all such references, and ordered officials to stop making use of the royal term. The attack on royal branding comes as Sir Keir’s republican past has been exposed. A Tory source called the change a “grotesque attack” on the monarchy.
The Prime Minister once represented the Guardian newspaper in a publicity stunt case for its campaign to abolish the monarchy. In 2001, the Guardian sued, claiming its journalists risked prosecution under the 1848 Treason Felony Act for advocating abolition.
Sir Keir represented the paper, but judges threw out the case as a waste of time.
Speaking at the time, Lord Justice Scott said: “You do not have to be a very good lawyer to know that to advocate the abolition of the monarchy […] by peaceful and constitutional means will lead neither to prosecution nor to conviction.”

Labour ditched ‘His Majesty’ without announcement (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir has admitted he used to call for scrapping the monarchy, saying in 2025: “I got made a Queen’s Counsel, which is odd since I often used to propose the abolition of the monarchy.” The last Labour Government, under Tony Blair, pulled the same trick, rebranding “HM Stationery Office” as the “Office of Public Sector Information” and “Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire Services” as the “Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser”.
Former Prime Minister, Sir Tony Blair, also wanted to join the euro, which would have seen British currency bereft of Her Majesty’s likeness. Critics claim that this latest attack on the monarchy follows a wider pattern showing Labour’s lack of respect for Britain’s national institutions.
It comes after the Government ceded sovereignty of the Chagos Islands and granted planning permission for what critics called a Chinese spy-hub in central London.
The Labour Party refused to comment, and directed the Daily Express to the cabinet office. A government spokesman confirmed the changes had been made, and said: “To provide clarity for the public, communications teams are advised to use “UK Government” rather than departmental names and logos for announcements. This does not affect the use of “His Majesty’s Government”, which continues on relevant official communications and records.”
