The Scottish Green manifesto for Britain’s upcoming general elections would propose removing the “pomp and circumstance’’ of the monarchy, co-leader Patrick Harvie has said.

Speaking ahead of the party’s campaign launch in Edinburgh on Thursday, Mr Harvie said his party would set out plans for a written constitution and a republic that can elect and remove heads of state.

The manifesto plans were set to propose the abolition of “unelected heads of state and a permanent written constitution” in an independent Scotland.

He said, “The monarchy is a badly outdated and fundamentally undemocratic institution. It represents a different era and feels increasingly irrelevant and ridiculous in the 21st century. Yet in a matter of weeks, the full pomp and circumstance of the monarchy will be on display when the King does the state opening of a new government. We should be able to challenge power and elect or remove our head of state through the ballot box, as most countries do.”

He also demanded a written constitution, which would be used to avoid the kind of power grabs and stunts seen from Westminster.

He said, “The Scottish Greens are the only party calling for an independent Scottish republic where power lies with the people rather than being handed down like a family heirloom.”

The United Kingdom is set to hold general elections on July 4.

(dpa/NAN)