Let the Commonwealth reject Charles – Corbyn

PRINCE Charles should not automatically succeed the Queen as head of the Commonwealth, Jeremy Corbyn claimed yesterday.

The Labour leader said the association’s 53 members should choose who takes the post, suggesting it could be held on rotation. He also said Britain should apologise at this week’s Commonwealth summit for wrongs committed during its colonial past.

The Queen’s father, George VI, was the first head of the Commonwealth when the title was devised in 1949 after India’s independence. She took over when she became Queen three years later.

But appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Corbyn suggested the Prince of Wales may not be the right person to hold the position next.

He said: ‘I think the Commonwealth ought to get a chance to decide who its own head is in the future. The Queen clearly is personally very committed to the Commonwealth, but after her I think maybe it’s time to say the Commonwealth should decide who its own president is on a rotational basis.’

Tory chairman Brandon Lewis tweeted: ‘Unbelievable. Corbyn seemingly suggesting a downgrading of our monarchy the Commonwealth. Shocking Labour fail.’

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told the same programme that it ‘is a matter for the 53 to decide’.

Mr Corbyn also said the UK should take the opportunity at this week’s Commonwealth meeting to apologise for past wrongs, adding: ‘I think it’s very important that Britain recognises its historical role in many of these issues.’