Ministers blasted for ‘respect for the King’ research
THE Government was accused of ‘very bad taste’ last night for using taxpayers’ money to find whether respect for the British monarchy around the world had changed since Charles took the throne.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that one week after the Queen died, the Government gave a £20,000, 12-month contract to a data research firm to keep it informed of ‘global media coverage’ of the monarchy.
The contract, awarded to a firm chaired by a former Tory MP, asked for ‘a media monitoring and sentiment analysis’ on reports related to the monarchy.
Tory MPs said the contract decision was humiliating for the King. One former Minister said: ‘This is precisely the sort of silly expenditure that needs to be cut. It is also impertinent to the King.’
Another ex-Minister said: ‘There are more diplomatic ways of going about this research.’
Government sources suggested the monitoring operation would combat ‘global disinformation’ over the transition to a new sovereign.
It follows fears the Queen’s death spelt uncertainty for the monarchy and the Commonwealth.
Some MPs said the contract – awarded to Signal AI, chaired by former Tory frontbencher Archie Norman – suggested the Government shared those concerns.
The Cabinet Office said: ‘We routinely contract third parties to monitor the spread of global misinformation during moments of major national significance.’
Buckingham Palace and Mr Norman did not comment, although it is understood he has had nothing to do with the contract.
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace yesterday denied the King was still ‘champing at the bit’ to attend next month’s Cop27 climate summit in Egypt.
Reports had said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was upholding the ban issued by his predecessor Liz Truss on fervent environmentalist Charles attending.
Buckingham Palace denied the King was disappointed.