16 January 2024 , 12:17
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Tuesday's edition of This Morning got royally awkward at one point as two guests clashed during a debate about King Charles' new publicly-funded portrait.
Ashley James and Nick Ferrari joined hosts Josie Gibson and Dermot O'Leary in the ITV studio to discuss the latest news and headlines, with the pair differing over the controversial £8million government-funded scheme related to the monarchy.
Former Made In Chelsea star Ashley passionately argued that it is a "disgrace" that hardworking Brits are having to foot the bill for pictures of the unelected head of state to be displayed in public buildings during a cost of living crisis - leaving royalist Nick speechless.
LBC host Nick tried to justify the mammoth use of taxpayer money when host Dermot questioned if The Crown Estate should perhaps foot the bill, with Josie also chiming in to ask just why the portraits "cost so much".
Ashley James passionately argued to money should be spent on things like the NHS (ITV)In the pictures unveiled on Monday, King Charles is shown in his full regalia in the new official portrait which is ready to hang in public buildings across the UK as part of a controversial £8million government-funded scheme. The cost of the pictures, taken last year by photographer Hugo Burnand, will not be deducted The Crown Estate - with taxpayers instead paying the bill.
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As Josie asked Ashley her "thoughts on the £8million scheme" on Tuesday's installment of This Morning, the former reality TV star sarcastically replied: "What at great use of public money in a cost of living crisis! How beautiful will a shiny portrait of the King look on a school that's crumbling, and while we're having record waiting times for the NHS? A lovely portrait of the King."
Speaking in a more serious tone, Ashley continued: "I feel like we have been told 'we need to make sacrifices, we're in a cost of living crisis' - before that there's been austriety and covid - and it's always working people that are told to make the sacrifices during hard times, but then they have £8million to roll out for a picture of the King.
'We have more food banks than McDonald's [in this country] but they can spend money on a portrait?' (ITV)Ashley later added: "The Royal Family and Rishi Sunak are both worth billions of pounds yet they're telling us working people that we can't have more money for strikes. We have more food banks than McDonald's [in this country] but they can spend money on a portrait? I just don't understand."
When it was Nick's turn to talk, the conservative radio host struggled to counter Ashley's argument - beginning by sarcastically saying "thank you for that political party broadcast comrade Ashley" before going on to claim many other countries across the world have official portraits of monarchs hanging in government buildings.
Ashley isn't the only person angered over the fact public money is being used to fund royal portraits, with anti-monarchy campaign group Republic branding the initiative a "shameful waste of money" when the news of King Charles' pricey new snaps was announced ahead of his coronation last year.
"At a time when a majority of local councils are raising taxes and cutting public services, when schools and hospitals are struggling, to spend even £1 on this nonsense would be £1 too much," Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, said at the time. "The Government has lost the plot if they think people want their money spent on pictures of Charles. They need to scrap this scheme and direct the money where it’s really needed."
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden is in support of the publicly-funded portraits, with the Tory MP saying: "The accession of His Majesty The King marked a new chapter in our national story. Displaying this new portrait will serve as a reminder to us all of the example set by our ultimate public servant and I hope as many eligible organisations as possible will wish to continue this proud British tradition and honour our King‘s reign."