Despite warnings from London’s Metropolitan Police of a “low tolerance for disruption” at the event, coronation protests are set to go ahead to demonstrate against the coronation of King Charles and the money being spent on it.
Anti-monarchy group Republic expects up to 2,000 people to protest. The job of the police includes protecting the right to protest, said Ken Ritchie, part of the Labour for a Republic.
There is a growing number of people questioning whether they want a monarchy at all in the UK, and according to a recent YouGov poll, more than one in four Brits support abolishing the monarchy.
The protest will take place on the first weekend after the Public Order Act came in allowing stricter policing of protests. Protesters are undeterred by the Met’s hardline stance on Twitter and new anti-protest laws.
The cost of the upcoming coronation weekend has been the subject of speculation, with reports suggesting it could be between £100 million and £250 million.
The true cost will be revealed in June when the palace releases its financial report. The coronation is a state event, and taxpayers are expected to cover the expenses.
Against the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis and public service strikes, some people are choosing not to show their support for the new king.
Labor for a Republic is calling for a more transparent discussion about the royal family, who are exempt from 160 laws, including the equalities act.
Lawley said: “We are going to see a lot of pageantry and ridiculousness over the coronation. The grown-ups in the room are those asking to have a democratically elected head of state, not someone anointed by god with a special oil.”
On Wednesday, the Met Police shared a thread boasting the “largest one-day mobilization of officers seen in decades with over 11,500 officers on duty” it has planned for the big day.
They also warned “Our tolerance for any disruption, whether through protest or otherwise, will be low. We will deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining this celebration.”
The new Public Order Act became law just in time for the weekend. The laws introduced include year-long prison sentences for protesters who block roads, six-month sentences or unlimited fines for anyone who locks onto others, objects, or buildings, and enhanced police powers to stop and search protesters they suspect are trying to cause “disruption”.
The UN High Commissioner warned the legislation went against international human rights, saying it “imposes unnecessary and disproportionate criminal sanctions on people organizing or taking part in peaceful protests”.
The act was fast-tracked into becoming law just days before the coronation, although Home Office minister Tom Tugendhat insisted the timing was a coincidence.
Lawley said: “It’s important we stand up to this. It is the first test under the new law and if we can show we can democratically and peacefully protest this abhorrent assault on our democracy we will show we can stand up for other issues that need to be talked about.”
