People are being arrested for holding up anti-monarchy signs
People have been arrested for holding up signs reading "Not My King' and "f*ck imperialism", whilst another man was cautioned for holding a blank piece of paper.
A number of UK anti-royalists have been arrested in recent days as the police have been seen to crack down on protests following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
As King Charles III begins his royal duties as the new monarch, a number of people have been arrested up and down the country for holding up signs or shouting comments critical of the British monarchy.
Over the past few days, several young people have been arrested in Edinburgh, Scotland, where the Queen’s coffin had been lying in rest at St Giles cathedral before she is moved to Westminster Hall in central London.
Arrests have also been made at the opposite end of the country, with footage showing police leading away a protester outside Downing Street in London for holding up a sign that read “Not My King”.
Meanwhile, in Oxford a man was arrested on Sunday for shouting “who elected him?” while walking past a royal event where King Charles III was being ushered in as king during a county proclamation ceremony.
Symon Hill, 45, said of the incident: “Contrary to some claims on social media, I did not say *anything* remotely disrespectful today about Elizabeth’s death. I did not disrupt an act of mourning (and never would). My objection was to the proclamation of Charles Windsor as king.”
After his outburst he was led away by police, handcuffed and put in the back of the van. According to Thames Valley Police he was later de-arrested and is now being investigated for a “public order offense.”
Speaking on what happened after the incident, he wrote: “I doubt most of the people in the crowd even heard me. Two or three people near me told me to shut up.
“I didn’t insult them or attack them personally, but responded by saying that a head of state was being imposed on us without our consent.”
Elsewhere, footage emerged on Monday of a man being dragged to the floor by mourners after heckling Prince Andrew as the Queen’s coffin was escorted through Edinburgh.
After calling the late Monarch’s youngest son a “sick old man”, the 22 year old man can be seen crashing to the floor before being picked up by a police officer and led away as a chant of “God save the King” is quickly started up in the crowd.
Police later said that the man was later arrested for committing a ‘breach of the peace’.
Another video was shared on social media on Monday showing an anti-royalist being cautioned by a police officer for holding up a blank piece of paper.
As well as tweeting about the experience, Paul Powlesland, 36, filmed the officer asking for his details and saying that he needs to “check and make sure you can be here.”
Paul, a barrister and nature rights activist, says to the officer “I was holding up a blank sign, why are you asking for my details?”
The officer replied, “Because you said you were going to write stuff on it, that might offend people about the King”
Just went to Parliament Square & held up a blank piece of paper. Officer came & asked for my details. He confirmed that if I wrote “Not My King” on it, he would arrest me under the Public Order Act because someone might be offended.
According to the legal index In Brief, a breach of the peace is used to prevent “unlawful violence against people or property”
The site says that “an arrest for an anticipated breach of the peace will only be lawful if the threat of the breach is imminent”,
Graham Smith, from the pressure group Republic, said: “This is absolutely the time to talk about the future of the monarchy because we have a new monarch. Charles has become King without consent, without discussion or debate. It has just happened automatically and there is no effort to have a serious debate about that, and that is completely wrong.
“The arrests of protesters over the past 24 hours have been absolutely appalling. The police should be ashamed of themselves.”
People are being arrested for expressing their opposition to unelected, hereditary power.
If this was happening in Russia, the Government would be denouncing it on the international stage.
Instead, they're pushing ahead with further legislation to curb our right to protest.
I'm deeply concerned by reports that people are being arrested for expressing their views in support of a Republic. In a democracy, people must always have the right to peacefully express their opinions. I will be seeking to raise this in Parliament when it resumes next week.
Richard Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds East, said: “I’m deeply concerned by reports that people are being arrested for expressing their views in support of a Republic.
“In a democracy, people must always have the right to peacefully express their opinions. I will be seeking to raise this in Parliament when it resumes next week.”
Feature image – UK Fact Check Politics
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You can stay in an aircraft, helicopter or old school bus at this glamping pod near Manchester
Thomas Melia
There’s a glamping retreat near Manchester offering extraordinary stays in an aircraft, helicopter, old school bus and more.
Over in Blackpool at Manor House Glamping, there is a range of static vehicles that you can have an overnight stay or two in, and according to the pictures on its website, there’s even a resident emu.
You can stay in various modes of transport, such as an aircraft, an iconic yellow school bus, a campervan or a military green truck.
Each has its own perks ranging from a hot tub, outdoor bath, fire pit, sandpit and more. Whatever type of getaway or retreat you’re looking for, you’ll find everything you need right here.
The most eye-catching of the company’s stays is certainly the aircraft, which has kept its original cockpit features, although it’s safe to say the interior has definitely had a makeover.
There’s no such thing as a bad in-flight experience with this guest house, as you can get cocktails delivered to the cockpit after taking a dip in your own personal hot tub – not too shabby, eh?
With the bright and unmissable yellow school bus, there are plenty of decorations that help continue this theme in the form of various American road signs, one of which acts as your headboard for the night.
If you’re after a more toned-down chance to unwind, you can step into a pale-white camper van with cosy cushions and a snug haystack-turned-sofa adorned with some gorgeous blankets.
And if you’re looking at going all out, then your Manor House Glamping accommodation of choice has to be the chopper, which was once used by the Royal Navy.
Worried this option might be a tad nippy? Fear not, because this helicopter is fully kitted out to suit your glamping needs with two fluffy-lined cushions on each seat of this vintage heli.
Anyone who experiences cabin fever, fear not, because all the aircraft and vehicles are static and aren’t planning on making a long-haul journey anytime soon, you’ll still be able to keep your feet firmly on the ground.
Manor House Glamping has a variety of vehicle-themed guest houses, both old and new, for you to stay in overnight and if you’re interested or after any further information.
If you fancy staying within the boundaries of Greater Manchester but still fancy getting the feel for a cockpit, though, there’s a very fun day out over at Barton’s City Airport.
More than 100 ‘unsafe’ counterfeit Labubus seized in Oldham
Daisy Jackson
More than 100 counterfeit Labubus and accessories have been seized in Oldham, the council has announced.
The Labubu dolls – a plush collectible with giant smiles and bunny ears – have been seized because they are fake, and unsafe.
The haul of 104 Labubus has been given a street value of between £800 and £1000 – but if they were the real deal, they’d be worth more than three times as much.
The poorly-made figures were being sold for a fraction of the price of a real Labubu, which are manufactured by Chinese company Pop Mart (it’s set to open its second Manchester store in the Trafford Centre next week).
Oldham Council’s Trading Standards team said it seized the counterfeit Labubus from local businesses and found that they were unsafe and poorly made.
Officers raised concerns about the safety of the dolls, which had small parts such as eyes, hands and feet broke off easily, creating a choking hazard.
What a genuine Labubu should look like. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
They were also missing legally required safety marks such as the CE or UKCA labels, and lacked the name and address of a UK supplier, which is another legal requirement.
Councillor Elaine Taylor, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Licensing, said: “Oldham Trading Standards carries out regular checks to help keep unsafe products off the shelves. In this case, these counterfeit toys failed safety standards and have now been removed from sale.
“We know it can be tempting to buy toys that look like a bargain, but parents need to be extra careful. Fake toys like these may be cheaper, but they can put children in real danger if they’re not made to strict safety standards.
“If anyone has concerns about toys they’ve purchased, or if they see unsafe products on sale locally, we’d encourage them to get in touch with Trading Standards through the Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.”
Georgina Pellant -
13th September 2022 
