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List of British republicans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Supporters of republicanism in the United Kingdom—replacing the country's monarchy with a republic—typically favour an elected head of state to a constitutional monarch who heads the British royal family.[note 1]
Individuals (living)
Politicians (serving)

- Rhun ap Iorwerth, MS, leader of Plaid Cymru[1]
- Natalie Bennett, peer and former leader of the Green Party of England and Wales[2]
- Richard Burgon, MP (Labour)[3]
- Maggie Chapman, MSP (Scottish Greens)[4]
- Katy Clark, MSP (Scottish Labour), peer and former MP (Labour)[5]
- Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development and former AM (Labour Co-op)[6]
- Jeremy Corbyn, MP (Independent) and former leader of the Labour Party[7]
- Mark Drakeford, MS, former leader of Welsh Labour and First Minister of Wales[8]
- Mark Ferguson, MP (Labour)[9]
- Stephen Flynn, MP (SNP)[10]
- George Foulkes, peer, former MP and MSP (Labour, Scottish Labour and Co-operative Party)
- Zöe Garbett, London Assembly member (Green Party)[11][12]
- Christine Grahame, MSP (SNP)[13]
- Ross Greer, MSP (Scottish Greens)[14]
- Nia Griffith, MP (Labour)[6]
- John Griffiths, MS (Welsh Labour)[13]
- Llyr Gruffydd, MS (Plaid Cymru)[15]
- Peter Hain, peer and former MP (Labour)[16]
- Patrick Harvie, MSP and co-leader of the Scottish Greens[17]
- Elin Jones, MS (Plaid Cymru) and Llywydd (Presiding Officer) of the Senedd[18]
- Clive Lewis, MP (Labour)[19]
- Gillian Mackay, MSP (Scottish Greens)[20]
- John McDonnell, MP (Independent, formerly Labour)[21]
- Paul McLennan, MSP (SNP)[22]
- Ash Regan, MSP (Alba, formerly SNP)[23]
- Ken Skates, MS (Welsh Labour)[24]
- Lorna Slater, MSP and co-leader of the Scottish Greens[25]
- Andy Slaughter, MP (Labour)[26]
- Cat Smith, MP (Labour)[27]
- Dick Taverne, peer (Liberal Democrats) and former MP (Labour, Democratic Labour)[13]
- Mercedes Villalba, MSP (Scottish Labour)[28]
- Humza Yousaf, MSP (SNP), former First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party[23]
Politicians (former)



- Norman Baker, former MP (Liberal Democrats)[29]
- Jonathan Bartley, theologian and former co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales[13]
- John Biggs, former Labour mayor of Tower Hamlets[13]
- Mhairi Black, former MP (Scottish National Party)[30]
- Steven Bonnar, former MP (Scottish National Party)[31]
- Russell Brown, former MP (Labour)[13]
- Ronnie Campbell, former MP (Labour)[32]
- Michael Clapham, former MP (Labour)[33]
- David Crausby, former MP (Labour)[13]
- Roseanna Cunningham, former MSP (SNP)[13]
- Ian Davidson, former MP (Labour)[34]
- Ron Davies, former MP (Labour), Independent councillor and political activist (Plaid Cymru)[35]
- Emma Dent Coad, former MP (Labour)[36]
- Bill Etherington, former MP (Labour)[37]
- Linda Fabiani, former MSP (SNP)[13]
- George Galloway, former MP (Labour, Respect, Workers Party) and leader of the Workers Party[38]
- Rob Gibson, former MSP (SNP)[13]
- Roger Godsiff, former MP (Labour)[13]
- David Hanson, former MP (Labour)[39]
- Roy Hattersley, former MP (Labour) and peer[40]
- Derek Hatton, former deputy leader of Liverpool City Council (Labour)[41]
- John Heppell, former MP (Labour)[39]
- Kelvin Hopkins, former MP (Labour)[13]
- Julian Huppert, former MP (Liberal Democrats)[13]
- Brian Iddon, former MP (Labour)[13]
- Lynne Jones, former MP (Labour)[42]
- Rosie Kane, former MSP (Scottish Socialist Party)[43]
- Ken Livingstone, former mayor of London and Labour MP[44]
- Caroline Lucas, former MP and co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales[45]
- Andrew MacKinlay, former MP (Labour) and councillor (Liberal Democrats)[46]
- Denis MacShane, author and former MP (Labour)[47]
- Magid Magid, former MEP (Green Party of England and Wales) and Lord Mayor of Sheffield[48]
- Bob Marshall-Andrews, barrister and former MP (Labour)[46]
- John McAllion, former MP and MSP (Labour)[49]
- Natalie McGarry, former MP (SNP and Independent)[50]
- Jim McGovern, former MP (Labour)[13]
- Ann McKechin, former MP (Labour)[13]
- Anne McLaughlin, former MP (SNP)[51]
- Chris Mullin, former MP (Labour)[52]
- Doug Naysmith, former MP (Labour)[46]
- Stephen Pound, former MP (Labour)[13]
- Gordon Prentice, former MP (Labour)[46]
- Ken Ritchie, former Labour councillor, psephologist and founder of Labour for a Republic[6]
- Phil Sawford, former MP (Labour)[53]
- Bethan Sayed, former MS (Plaid Cymru)[13]
- Tommy Sheppard, former MP (SNP)[54]
- Jim Sillars, former MP (Labour and SNP)[55]
- Dennis Skinner, former MP (Labour)[56]
- Adam Tomkins, former MSP (Conservative)[46]
- Jean Urquhart, former MSP (SNP and Independent)[4]
- Graham Watson, former MEP (Liberal Democrats)[13]
- Sandra White, former MSP (SNP)[13]
- Chris Williamson, former MP (Labour and Independent)[57]
- Bill Wilson, former MSP (SNP) and political activist (Scottish Greens)[13]
- Leanne Wood, former MS (former leader of Plaid Cymru)[13]
Political activists

- Tariq Ali, author and political activist[58]
- Jamie Bevan, Welsh language activist[59]
- Julie Bindel, writer and political activist[60]
- Catherine Mayer, author and co-founder of the Women's Equality Party[61]
- Alan McCombes, Scottish Socialist Party campaigner[62]
- Gareth Miles, Welsh language activist[63]
- Craig Murray, former diplomat and activist[64]
- Alex O'Connor, English YouTuber and atheism activist[65]
- Mike Small, Scottish author and activist[66]
- Peter Tatchell, gay rights campaigner[40][67]
- Kevin Williamson, Scottish writer and activist[68]
Political staff and advisors
- Alastair Campbell, political strategist, journalist and author[69]
- Philip Collins, journalist and former chief speechwriter to Tony Blair[70]
- Andrew Fisher, political adviser and consultant[71]
- Lance Price, writer, journalist and former political adviser to Tony Blair[13]
Trade unionists
- John Edmonds, former General Secretary of GMB Union[72]
- Mick Lynch, General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)[73]
- Arthur Scargill, former trade union leader, leader of the Socialist Labour Party[74]
Journalists and non-fiction writers





- Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, columnist for The Independent[13]
- Jackie Ashley, journalist[75]
- Julian Baggini, philosopher and writer[13]
- Piers Brendon, historian and writer[13]
- Emma Brockes, author and journalist[76]
- Heather Brooke, journalist, writer and FOI activist[13]
- Julie Burchill, writer and columnist[13][77]
- Beatrix Campbell, journalist and author[13]
- Nick Cohen, columnist for The Observer[78]
- Michael Collins, writer and broadcaster[79]
- Robert Crampton, journalist (The Times)[80]
- Bill Emmott, former editor of The Economist[81]
- Otto English, author and journalist[82]
- Jonathan Freedland, journalist[13]
- Tanya Gold, journalist[83]
- Roy Greenslade, journalist and academic[13]
- Johann Hari, writer and journalist[84]
- Lester Holloway, journalist and former councillor (Labour)[85]
- Mick Hume, journalist[86]
- Owen Jones, journalist[87][88]
- Kitty Kelley, American journalist and author[13]
- Simon Kelner, journalist and former editor of The Independent[89]
- Matt Kennard, journalist and head of investigations at Declassified UK[90]
- A. L. Kennedy, writer and academic[91]
- Philippe Legrain, economist and writer[13]
- Tim Lott, author[13]
- Iain Macwhirter, political commentator[92]
- Kevin Maguire, journalist[93]
- Kenan Malik, writer, lecturer and broadcaster[13]
- Andrew MacGregor Marshall, journalist[94]
- Allegra McEvedy, chef and food writer[91]
- Chris McLaughlin, journalist[13]
- Suzanne Moore, journalist[13]
- Tom Nairn, essayist[95]
- Brendan O'Neill, journalist[13]
- Susie Orbach, psychotherapist and writer[91]
- Stephen Pollard, author and journalist[13]
- Jay Rayner, food critic[96]
- Brian Reade, Daily Mirror columnist[97]
- Vicky Richardson, journalist[13]
- Paul Routledge, Daily Mirror journalist[98]
- Frances Ryan, journalist and political activist[99]
- Ash Sarkar, journalist and political activist[100][101]
- Miranda Sawyer, journalist[102]
- Mark Seddon, journalist[13]
- Will Self, journalist[103]
- Joan Smith, novelist, journalist and human rights activist[13]
- Polly Toynbee, columnist for The Guardian[13]
- Janice Turner, journalist and columnist for The Times[104]
- Francis Wheen, journalist, writer and broadcaster[13]
- Andreas Whittam Smith, journalist (co-founder and first editor of The Independent)[105]
- Peter Wilby, journalist[106]
- Gary Younge, journalist[13]
Novelists and fiction authors
- Philippa Gregory, novelist[13]
- Mark Haddon, novelist[13]
- James Kelman, novelist and playwright[107]
- Kathy Lette, novelist[108]
- John Niven, screenwriter and author[109]
- Caryl Phillips, novelist[13]
- Philip Pullman, author[91]
- Michèle Roberts, novelist and poet[110]
- Sara Sheridan, author and historical novelist[111]
- Zadie Smith, author[112]
- Jonathan Trigell, author[13]
Broadcasters

- Simon Fanshawe, writer and broadcaster[13]
- Mariella Frostrup, journalist and broadcaster[113]
- Julia Hartley-Brewer, radio presenter and political journalist[114]
- John Humphrys, radio and television presenter[115]
- Mark Kermode, film critic, journalist[116]
- Paul Mason, political commentator and author[117]
- Fiona Phillips, journalist and broadcaster[118]
- Amol Rajan, journalist and broadcaster[119]
- Lesley Riddoch, radio broadcaster, activist and journalist[120]
- Matthew Wright, broadcaster and journalist[121]
Business people
- Dawn Airey, media executive and sports administrator[91]
- Alan McGee, co-founder of Creation Records and Poptones[122]
- Tim Waterstone, founder of Waterstones bookshops and author[91]
Actors

- Steve Coogan, actor and comedian[123][124]
- Brian Cox[125]
- Ben Dover, pornographic actor[126]
- Christopher Eccleston[127]
- Colin Firth[128]
- Mark Gatiss, actor, comedian, screenwriter and novelist[129][130]
- Margot Leicester, actor[131]
- Paul McGann[132]
- Josh O'Connor[133]
- Daniel Radcliffe[134]
- Dougray Scott[135]
- Elaine C. Smith[136]
- Abigail Thorn, YouTuber, actress and playwright[137]
- Samuel West, actor and director[138]
Comedians

- Frankie Boyle, comedian and writer[139]
- Jo Brand[13][140]
- Robin Ince, comedian, actor and writer[13]
- Eddie Izzard, comedian, actor and writer[141]
- Lloyd Langford[142]
- Rob Newman[91]
- John Oliver,[143] actor and comedian, host of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
- Mark Steel[40]
- Mark Thomas, comedian, author and activist[13]
- Tracey Ullman, actor and comedian[144]
- Henning Wehn[145]
Singers, musicians and composers
- James Dean Bradfield, lead vocalist and guitarist of the Manic Street Preachers[146]
- Ray Burns (Captain Sensible), musician[13]
- Adrian Fry, trombonist and arranger[147]
- Iona Fyfe, singer[4]
- Mark 'Barney' Greenway, singer[13]
- Paul Heaton, singer (The Beautiful South)[148]
- Pat Kane, musician (Hue and Cry), journalist and political activist[120]
- Kunt and the Gang, musician [149]
- Sean Moore, musician (Manic Street Preachers)[146]
- Morrissey, singer-songwriter and author (formerly of The Smiths)[150]
- Craig Reid, musician (The Proclaimers)[151]
- Charlie Reid, musician (The Proclaimers)[151]
- Paul Simonon, musician (formerly of The Clash)[13]
- Robert Smith, musician (The Cure)[152]
- Paul Towndrow, saxophonist[153]
- Nicky Wire, musician (Manic Street Preachers)[146]
Artists
- Steve Bell, cartoonist[13]
- Peter Fluck, caricaturist and satirist[91]
- Mark McGowan, performance artist known as Chunky Mark and The Artist Taxi Driver[154]
- Ralph Steadman, cartoonist[91]
Theatre and film directors
- John Boorman, film director[155]
- Danny Boyle, Academy Award-winning film director[156]
- Richard Eyre, theatre and film director[91]
- Stephen Frears, film director and producer[157]
- Paul Greengrass, film director and screenwriter[13]
- Duncan Jones, film director, producer and screenwriter[158]
- Mike Leigh, writer and director of film and theatre[13]
- Ken Loach, film and television director[13]
Screenwriters and playwrights
- Alan Bissett, author and playwright[4]
- Jon Canter, television comedy writer[13]
- Maureen Chadwick, screenwriter, dramatist and television producer[13]
- Michael Frayn, author and playwright[159]
- David Hare, playwright[81]
- Julia Pascal, playwright and theatre director[13]
Poets

- Tony Harrison, poet, translator and playwright[160]
- Mike Jenkins[161]
- Patrick Jones, poet, playwright and filmmaker[13]
- Liz Lochhead, Makar (National Poet for Scotland) and essayist[162]
- Sean O'Brien, poet and critic[163]
- Michael Rosen, novelist and poet[13]
- Luke Wright[164]
Sportspeople
- Joey Barton, football manager and former footballer[165]
- Stan Collymore, former footballer[13]
- Frankie Dettori, Italian jockey[166]
- Brian Moore, former rugby union player[167]
Legal professionals

- Louise Christian, human rights lawyer[13]
- Imran Khan, lawyer[46]
- Michael Mansfield, KC[40][168]
- Geoffrey Robertson, KC[13]
- Clive Stafford Smith, lawyer and human rights campaigner[169]
Academics
- Kehinde Andrews, author and professor of Black Studies at Birmingham City University[170]
- Sophie Grace Chappell, philosopher[171]
- Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist and writer[13][172]
- Gregor Gall, writer and academic[173]
- Ted Honderich, academic and philosopher[13]
- Laura McAllister, Professor of Public Policy and the Governance of Wales at the Wales Governance Centre, Cardiff University[174]
- Steven Rose, scientist and writer[13]
- Quentin Skinner, academic and historian[175]
- Adam Tomkins, academic and former MSP (Scottish Conservatives)[46]
- Nigel Warburton, academic and philosopher[13]
Religious figures
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Individuals (deceased)
Politicians




- Tony Banks (1942–2006), MP and peer (Labour)[52]
- Tony Benn (1925–2014), MP (Labour)[177]
- Charles Bradlaugh (1833–1891), MP (Liberal)[178]
- George Buchanan (1890–1955), MP (Labour)[179]
- William Cluse (1875–1955), MP (Labour)[180]
- Richard Crossman (1907–1974), MP (Labour) and editor of the New Statesman[181]
- Donald Dewar (1937–2000), Scottish Labour politician and First Minister of Scotland[182]
- Sir Charles Dilke (1843–1911), MP (Liberal)[183]
- Jack Dormand (1919–2003), MP and peer (Labour)[184]
- Raymond Fletcher (1921–1991), MP (Labour)[185]
- Paul Flynn (1935–2019), MP (Labour)[13]
- Michael Foot (1913–2010), MP (Labour) and leader of the Labour Party[186]
- Willie Gallacher (1881–1965), MP (Communist Party of Great Britain)[180]
- Arthur Greenwood (1880–1954), MP (Labour)[187]
- Willie Hamilton (1917–2000), MP (Labour)
- George Hardie (1873–1937), MP (Labour)[180]
- Keir Hardie (1856–1915), MP and founder of the Labour Party[184]
- Emrys Hughes (1894–1969), MP (Labour) and journalist[188]
- Glenda Jackson (1936–2023), MP (Labour) and actress[13]
- William Keenan (1889–1955), MP (Labour)[189]
- George Lansbury (1859–1940), MP (Labour) and leader of the Labour Party[190]
- Margo MacDonald (1943–2014), MP and MSP (SNP)[191]
- David Marquand (1934–2024), academic, author and former MP (Labour)[192]
- James Maxton (1885–1946), MP (Independent Labour Party)[180]
- Valentine McEntee (1871–1953), MP (Labour)[193]
- John McGovern (1887–1968), MP (Labour)[194]
- Kevin McNamara (1934–2017), MP (Labour)[52]
- Michael Meacher (1939–2015), MP (Labour)[195]
- John Stuart Mill (1806–1873), MP (Liberal), philosopher and political economist[16]
- Peter Mond, 4th Baron Melchett (1948–2018), life peer (Labour) and campaigner
- Mo Mowlam (1949–2005), MP (Labour) and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland[196]
- Stan Orme (1923–2005), MP (Labour)[52]
- John Prescott (1938–2024), MP, peer (Labour) and Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom[197]
- Gwilym Prys-Davies (1923–2017), peer (Labour)[13]
- Richard Rogers (1933–2021), peer (Labour) and architect[198]
- Alfred Salter (1873–1945), MP (Labour)[199]
- Alex Salmond (1954–2024), MP, MSP and First Minister of Scotland (SNP, Alba)[200]
- Nancy Seear (1913–1997), peer and social scientist (Liberal, then Liberal Democrats)[201]
- Algernon Sidney (1623–1683), English politician and political theorist[202][203]
- Campbell Stephen (1884–1947), MP (Independent Labour Party)[180]
- Ernest Thurtle (1884–1954), MP (Labour)[188]
- Kay Ullrich (1943–2021), MSP (SNP)[204]
- Benjamin Vaughan (1751–1835), political economist and MP[205]
Political activists, advisers and social reformers

- Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832), philosopher, jurist and social reformer[206][207]
- Julian Cayo-Evans (1937–1995), Welsh political activist and leader of the Free Wales Army[208]
- Dennis Coslett (1939–2004), Welsh political activist (Free Wales Army) and author[209]
- Marcia Falkender (1932–2019), peer and private secretary to prime minister Harold Wilson[210]
- George William Foote (1850–1915), secularist and journal editor; secretary of the London Republican Club (1870) and National Republican League (1871)[211][212]
- John Frost (1750–1842), English radical[213]
- Stephen Maxwell (1942–2012), SNP activist[214]
- Trefor Morgan (1914–1970), Welsh nationalist activist[215]
- Thomas Muir of Huntershill (1765–1799), Scottish political reformer[216]
- Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797), feminist writer and philosopher[217]
Journalists, authors and writers

- J. G. Ballard (1930–2009), novelist[218]
- William Blake (1757–1827), writer and artist[219]
- Robert Burns (1759–1796), poet and lyricist[220]
- Carmen Callil (1938–2022), writer and publisher[221]
- John Cole (1927–2013), BBC political editor[222]
- Thomas Davison (1794–1826), journalist and publisher[223]
- A. A. Gill (1954–2016), journalist and critic[224]
- Thomas Gordon (c. 1691–1750), Scottish writer and Commonwealthman[225]
- Alasdair Gray (1934–2019), Scottish author[226]
- Barbara Hall (1923–2022), crossword compiler and writer[227]
- James Harrington (1611–1677), political theorist and author[228]
- Christopher Hitchens (1949–2011), author and columnist
- Leonard Hobhouse (1864–1929), political theorist[229]
- Anthony Holden (1947–2023), writer, broadcaster and critic[230]
- Mervyn Jones (1922–2010), writer[231]
- Ethel Mannin (1900–1984), novelist and travel writer[232]
- Kingsley Martin (1897–1969), editor of the New Statesman, 1930–60[233]
- John Milton (1608–1674), poet[234]
- Edwin Morgan (1920–2010), Makar (National Poet for Scotland) and translator[162]
- Jan Morris (1926–2020), historian and writer[235]
- William Morris (1834–1896), writer and artist[236]
- Deborah Orr (1962–2019), journalist[237]
- Thomas Paine (1737–1809), English-American author and revolutionary[238]
- Ronald Payne (1926–2013), journalist and war correspondent[239]
- Edward Pearce (1939–2018), New Statesman contributor[240]
- Claire Rayner (1931–2010), journalist[241]
- George W. M. Reynolds (1814–1879), author and journalist[242]
- Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822), English Romantic poet[243]
- Sue Townsend (1946–2014), author (wrote the best-selling political satire The Queen and I, in which Britain becomes a republic, later adapted as a TV drama on Sky One, and its sequel, Queen Camilla)[244]
- H. G. Wells (1866–1946), writer[245][246]
- Peter Whelan (1931–2014), playwright[13]
- Gwyn A. Williams (1925–1995), historian[95]
- Benjamin Zephaniah (1958–2023), poet[247]
Singers, musicians and composers
- Shane MacGowan (1957–2023), singer and songwriter (The Pogues)[248]
- Robert Simpson (1921–1997), composer[249][250]
Actors
- Honor Blackman (1925–2020)[40]
- Andrew Ray (1939–2003), actor who played the Duke of York (George VI) in Edward and Mrs Simpson and the Duke of Windsor (Edward VIII) in Passion and Paradise[251]
Artists
- Terence Conran (1931–2020), designer and restaurateur[91]
- William James Linton (1812–1897), wood-engraver and author[252]
Legal professionals
- Anthony Scrivener (1935–2015), QC[13]
- Nathaniel Wade (c. 1666?–1718), English lawyer[253]
Academics
- Patrick Collinson (1929–2011), historian[254]
- Bernard Crick (1929–2008), academic and political philosopher[58]
- Stephen Haseler (1942–2017), professor, author[13]
Military personnel
- Robert Overton (c. 1609–1678), English soldier and scholar[255]
- John Lawson (ca. 1615–1665), naval officer[256]
Religious figures
- Joseph Fawcett (c. 1758–1804), English Presbyterian minister and poet[257]
- Donald Soper (1903–1998), Methodist minister and peer (Labour)[258]
Media figures
- Max Clifford (1943–2017), publicist[91]
- Tony Garnett (1936–2020), television producer[259]
Other public figures
- Nicholas Culpeper (1616–1654), botanist, herbalist, physician and astrologer[260]
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Notes
References
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