News
Most Brits ‘don’t care’ about the King’s coronation, according to latest survey
The King coronation is obviously a notable moment in history, but is the interest actually there?
With King Charles III’s Coronation now just a few weeks away, we’re sure you’re all excitedly making plans for the bank holiday and keeping your fingers crossed for nice weather.
However, while you and the rest of the UK might be buzzing about the extra bit of time off this May, it seems that most of the country isn’t actually that bothered about the event itself.
According to a recent YouGov survey, the majority of Brits simply “don’t care” about the King’s coronation and
Taking data from over 3,000 adults surveyed, the market research company found that 35% of the people “don’t care very much” about the coronation and a further 29% “don’t care at all” — these being the two most prominent responses.
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As you can see, just 9% of participants answered that they actually care “a great deal” about the landmark event in British history which for the majority of the population will be the first coronation of a monarch in their lifetime.
In contrast, the data showed that those who did care naturally skewed towards the older age groups, with 32% of those aged 65 and over stating that they cared “a fair amount”, and a further 14% caring a great deal.
On the other hand, a sizeable chunk (35%) of over-65s said that they don’t care very much about the coronation —even more so than those aged 25-49, in fact — suggesting that perhaps the sentiment towards the Royal Family has shifted altogether, regardless of generation.
Nevertheless, 27% of people surveyed said they were still fairly likely to watch the historic moment on Saturday, 6 May and take part in the celebration somehow. Will you be watching or are you just not that bothered either?
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Featured Image — The Royal Family (via Twitter)/NDLA
News
Beloved Manchester artist Stanley Chow slams Conservative Party for using his artwork
Daisy Jackson
Celebrated local artist Stanley Chow has lashed out at the Conservative Party.
The illustrator, who is famed for his cartoon portraits of famous faces, has discovered that the political party have been using his Andy Burnham illustration at their party conference.
Publicly addressing the usage, Stanley said he would be ‘seeking legal advice’.
He shared a photo of his Andy Burnham portrait that has been placed onto a water bottle with the slogan ‘Bottler Burnham’.
The label also says: “0% strength. Bottled under pressure from Badenoch.”
In another photo, Stanley Chow revealed that the Tory party conference has used his Andy Burnham portrait on pots of sweets, too.
This time, they say: “Andy Panders’ people pleaser pick n mix. Free sweets for everyone, it will only cost you higher taxes.”
Stanley wrote: “It seems like @conservatives have been using my artwork without my permission at their conference party…
“Regardless of whatever your political allegiances are, it’s still copyright infringement… I’ll be seeking legal advice.”
Backing him up in the comments are a number of other local artists, including Mancsy, who said: “As well as the copyright infringement, I expect more of political parties than making gags at the expense of the opposition. It’s alarming on multiple levels.”
Someone else wrote: “Imagine calling a prime minister a people pleaser like it’s an insult… when it’s their job.”
Another person said: “How does that even happen?! Layers of people signing off who go, ‘Sure, let’s not worry about copyright’ (people who’ve presumably never step foot in MCR and seen your artwork, like EVERYWHERE). Drag em, babe. Copyright and reputation, surely.”
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Featured image: The Manc Group
News
Manchester man jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of woman on train
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of a woman on board a train to Manchester.
Following an extensive British Transport Police (BTP) investigation, Nisan Fernando Kurukulasuriya, of Troutbeck Road in Altrincham, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court last month.
At the trail last month, the court heard how, on Monday 20 April 2026, 39-year-old Kurukulasuriya was on a train from Stoke to Manchester and sat next to a woman he didn’t know, who was on the phone.
He then sexually assaulted her repeatedly, doing so again even after being pushed away by the woman.
The woman then noticed that Kurukulasuriya had exposed himself and was masturbating in front of her. She shouted at him, and in response, he stood up and ran away to leave the train – but the woman immediately got up to report the incident to staff.
When the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly, the woman alerted a member of staff while Kurukulasuriya was stood only a few meters away, and BTP were subsequently called straight away.
Police quickly attended and arrested Kurukulasuriya.
When police interviewed him, Kurukulasuriya showed no remorse for his actions and refused to answer any questions put to him.
After pleading guilty to Sexual Assault and Outraging Public Decency at a previous court hearing, Kurukulasuriya was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, and was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which will bar him from sitting next to any woman he doesn’t know on public transport, as well as being put on thensex offenders register for 10 years.
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BTP Detective Sergeant, Mark Haviland, called Kurukulasuriya a ‘despicable man’ who targeted a woman travelling alone ‘for his own sick sexual gratification’.
Featured Image – BTP
Danny Jones -
18th April 2023 
