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.
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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.”
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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.
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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?”
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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.”
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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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‘Ambitious’ new plans to tackle fly-tipping and litter across Manchester revealed
Emily Sergeant
An ambitious new plan to tackle flytipping and litter across Manchester has been revealed.
Developed with extensive input from residents, partners, businesses, and schools all across the borough, Manchester City Council has this week unveiled and formally approved the Fly-Tipping and Litter Strategy as a long‑term plan to significantly reduce the improper disposal of waste and its drain on public money, all while improving neighbourhood cleanliness across the city.
The strategy sets out a framework over nine years, backed by targeted enforcement, service improvements, and behaviour‑change campaigns to drive significant impact for thousands of Mancs.
As it stands, the Council removes litter as part of its scheduled services – with 6,563 reports responded to and 11,952 fines issued in 2024-25 – but is having to take things up a notch due to a consistent rise in littering incidents, as well as the ever-present issue of fly-tipping.
‘Ambitious’ new plans to tackle fly-tipping and litter across Manchester have been revealed / Credit: oatsy40 (via Flickr)
Nationally, England saw 1.15 million incidents of flytipping in 2023/24, with household waste accounting for more than 60% of cases, while here in Manchester, the city recorded a whopping 14,963 fly‑tipping incidents in 2024/25.
According to the Council, fly-tipping in Manchester usually occurs on roads and pavements (59%), and alleyways (22%).
The Council’s new Fly-tipping and Litter Strategy will be formally launched next month to coincide with the beginning of the Great British Spring Clean, and is hoped to signal a commitment to creating ‘cleaner, safer, and greener’ neighbourhoods for everyone.
The Great British Spring Clean is coming.
Get ready for March 13:
✋ Host a clean up 👍 Join a clean up 👌 Pledge support
“The Fly-Tipping and Litter Strategy is a significant step towards improving the long-term health of Manchester’s communities,” explained Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, who is the Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council, as the plans were unveiled this week.
“We recognised how important it is to hear from residents, people who live and work in the city, themselves and so we have developed this strategy in close consultation through their lived experiences and advice.
“While we already have key initiatives we work under, in addition to several other strategies and projects, this new strategy sets to galvanise and advance the work our services and communities are doing to ensure Manchester becomes cleaner and greener for everyone.”
Featured Image – MJ Richardson (via Geograph)
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Mancs start crowdfunder for Mani mural in honour of late, great, local music legend
Danny Jones
A group of Manchester artists, audiophiles and residents have started a fundraiser to create a new mural in memory of the late, great local music legend, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield.
Following The Stone Roses and Primal Scream bass player’s passing last year, the city and Greater Manchester as a whole have been finding ways to honour the Manc musician ever since.
Be it lining his funeral cortege from his home in Heaton Moor, Stockport, or peers like The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess penning heartfelt tributes, anyone and everyone has found their own way of paying their respects in the months since.
Taking the sustained sentiment even further, local art collective GRIT Studios is now planning to erect a massive mural in his memory.
We’re doing a massive mural for Manchester’s most loved son – Mani. All profits to @maggiesmanc a charity that was close to his heart.
Writing on the fundraising page’s description, GRIT say: “Inspired by Ian Brown’s eulogy to Mani at Manchester Cathedral, a major community crowdfunder is being launched to create a large-scale mural honouring the beloved bassist of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream and to raise funds for Maggie’s Manchester.
“The mural, which will be created in Failsworth, where young Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield grew up, has been initiated by the team at GRIT Studios following an overwhelming outpouring of love from fans across Greater Manchester and beyond.
“Mani’s brother, Greg Mounfield, is supporting this campaign and has facilitated a prominent, large wall space for the mural and chosen the design.
They go on to to explan that the piece “will be painted by the renowned artist Pic.One.Art, whose recent portrait of Noel and Liam Gallagher outside the iconic Sifters Records in Burnage became an instant landmark and received widespread attention.”
Speaking of Brown’s now viral speech, it still remains one of the most touching bits of public observance and shared mourning this city has ever seen – with a healthy little dose of Northern levity, of course.
@the.manc Yesterday, Manchester laid one of the city's greatest music legends, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, to rest at Manchester Cathedral. 🍋 Fellow band member and life-long friend Ian Brown read out a speech as hundreds gathered outside the cathedral to pay their respects to The Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist. Mani will be missed by many, and we send love to all his family and friends. ❤️ #manchester#mani#ianbrown#thestoneroses#stoneroses♬ original sound – The Manc
“Since Mani passed away in November, countless fans have expressed a desire to see a tribute in the place that shaped him in North Manchester”, they continue.
“GRIT Studios, the not-for-profit art studios organisation, has stepped forward to organise a community-led, crowdfunded project that celebrates Mani’s life, music and spirit.
“It will not only fund the creation of the mural, but all profits will go to Maggie’s Manchester, which was close to Mani and his wife Imelda’s hearts during her cancer treatment and for whom they fundraised.
With a target of £10,000 set and more than £6k already raised in just a matter of days, it looks to be a matter of when, not if, we’ll see Mani immortalised in paint, on brick and with typical Manc grit over in the borough of Oldham.
For anyone who wishes to contribute to the fast-growing Mani mural crowdfunder, you can do so HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
13th September 2022 
