Russell Brand pours scorn over 'dubious' financial contribution to UK economy made by 'lizard illuminati Royal Family'

The comedian and activist appears not to like the British Royal Family

Russell Brand gives his opinion on the British monarchy ('Trews' via YouTube)

Russell Brand has reminded everyone – once again – how much he dislikes the “lizard illuminati Royal Family” of Britain.

Speaking on his video blog ‘The Trews’, in which he rounds up and critiques current affairs, Brand claims the “dubious, slippery, sly figure” assessing the financial contribution of the royal family through overseas tourism, as well as the cost of general upkeep, is factually wrong.

“The estimated cost of the monarchy is about £299 million quid,” says Brand. “Around nine times the official figure published by the Royal Household, which didn’t include security.”

It is thought the figures cited by Brand are from Republic, a membership based pressure group that campaigns against the monarchy.

He continues “Royal visits and lost revenue from the Duchy of Lancaster” were also excluded from the official total of total expenditure.

This has been well documented following a Palace claim last year that the Royal Family cost each British taxpayer 56 pence annually.

The number was criticised by a number of publications after it emerged that – among other expenses – the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s two kitchens in Kensington were refitted at a cost to the taxpayer.

Brand goes on to quote an unidentified report that says claims made by VisitBritain in 2010 that the Royals bring in £500million annually in inbound tourism, were found to be “deeply flawed and made up”.

The comedian finally offers his solution: “So, we could kick them out of them palaces, make them live in a terrace house in Dagenham – with glass walls so we can look at them so they can properly raise money and bring people to Dagenham, an un-loved jewel of Essex I would call it – and then we could use Buckingham Palace as a dosshouse for homeless people or sort of a Chesterton World of Adventures style zoo stroke rollercoaster park, which would make a fortune.”

It is an old topic for Brand: he spoke in June last year, wrote a Guardian piece later that same year, and released a similar diatribe on ‘Trews’ last month.

(Corbis)

The comedian and sometime activist met the monarch in 2007 following a Royal Variety Performance in Liverpool, telling reporters that he used his performance to show “respect” to the Queen.