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Original poster

To worry that things will kick off in London this week?

415 replies

sunnydaytoday0 · 14/09/2022 01:27

By that I mean civil unrest? I certainly hope not but is it a worry given the simmering tension around things like peaceful protesters being warned they'd be arrested, people being reminded they're living in an incredibly unequal society during a cost of living crisis, the anger surrounding the police shooting of an unarmed man recently etc.

I image police officers are being drafted in from all over the country in near record numbers, but is anyone else worried a few heavy handed arrests over the next few days could actually tip the balance into serious disorder?

OP posts:
Stravaig · 14/09/2022 07:09

Cailleachian · 14/09/2022 03:54

Yup. Powder keg.

The death has brought up so much stuff, sectarianism, irish history, colonial history; the country is deeply divided economically, politically, geographically, there is genuine poverty and despair.

While Lizzie might have commandeered a level of "national treasure" status, Charles and his suitcases of money and holidays with Savile, Andrew and his arms dealing and abuse of young women not to mention the ongoing obvious hate campaign against Markle doesnt convey the required dignitas.

The wealth transfer that is going on here is obscene. Billions of tax-free money being passed around, billions more in influence of all kinds, power hard and soft.

We have a weak Prime Minister, a weak parliament, a weak opposition, a judicary that has been neutered, a press that has been bought and a civil service hollowed out from the inside. Billions are being borrowed by the state, risking hyperinflation and the collapse of the pound.

We are really not in a good way, and people know it.

Excellent summary.

StickywithSuncream · 14/09/2022 07:10

Tootyfilou · 14/09/2022 07:07

@Cailleachian
Echo every word you said so eloquently. Its amazing that more people cannot see it.

It’s not that people can’t see it. It’s just this simply isn’t driving the mood in London right now.

Jammydodgerlove · 14/09/2022 07:15

They are giving the whole thing way too much time to brew up trouble. Their popularity is tenuous and more exposure isn’t going to make it any better

SpinCityBlues · 14/09/2022 07:19

They’ve [royal weddings] all gone through smoothly, so nothing to worry about.

I'm not entirely sure that's how risk assessments work.

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 14/09/2022 07:19

sunnydaytoday0 · 14/09/2022 06:49

Protests from republicans will not be tolerated.

Remember, the police technically swear their oath of allegiance to the monarch. So that’s who they will be serving, not the general public expressing freedom of speech or whatever.

Well when all the captured footage of the police acting heavy handed or unlawfully makes its way on line or in the media then it's not exactly going to be good optics for a police force currently in special measures.

I wonder if they'll sexually assault anyone.

YouAreEntitledToMyOpinion · 14/09/2022 07:20

MintJulia · 14/09/2022 06:15

If terrorism is the concern, let's hope it takes more than 10 days to organise a credible terrorist attack. There's always the risk of a lone player but that hasn't changed

@User642986540 The keyboard warriors on here might not even be UK based. People can say anything online from anywhere.

Russian bots, maybe? After all they were responsible for Brexit according to the Brexit board on MN. Maybe they are now after the RF and trying to whip up discontent.

ethelredonagoodday · 14/09/2022 07:23

From what I can gather, pretty much all of the police forces across the country have sent police down to London and between them, and the security services, and their own security detail, every head of state and dignitary will be being watched like a hawk, and surveillance of everyone else will be heavy. There's also the fact that the military have a huge involvement in all the parades etc, so I think the chance of any sort of attack during the funeral and mourning period is very slim for this reason.

Afterwards, I think when the cost of living crisis really starts to bite, and people get cold and hungry we may well see unrest, but I don't think it'll be now.

SpinCityBlues · 14/09/2022 07:27

That guy in Edinburgh who heckled Andrew has now been charged (breach of the peace) according to Sky. He shouted, 'you sick old man' before being tackled to the ground by what looks like undercover police officers. His hands were visible at all times around his mouth.

The court case will be more terrible optics the royals if this man pleads not guilty and mounts a spirited defence. It's looking bad enough already that there's a clamp down on the right to protest and express dissenting views.

I think it's getting people's backs up.

Oblomov22 · 14/09/2022 07:28

No. Maybe see your GP for your chronic anxiety.

Skolo · 14/09/2022 07:35

Are you actually worried, OP? Or do you hope things will kick off in London?

Novum · 14/09/2022 07:40

I just can't see it this week with everything focussed on the funeral. Possibly in a couple fo weeks when attention shifts back to the economy and the weather gets colder and people can't afford to put heating on.

Morph22010 · 14/09/2022 07:41

Republicans tend to be more vocal. Most people I know who aren’t vocal royalists either I’ve found from reactions of the queen died that they are in support of the royal family. I look at a republic like the USA and don’t see any less wealth and privilege, if anything the royal family seem to have a little more humility

W0tnow · 14/09/2022 07:41

LightDrizzle · 14/09/2022 05:57

It has been in my mind that the current situation is surely irresistible to would-be terrorists; huge crowds, massive global media focus, imperialism on parade, royals en masse on foot and visible.

Any would-be terrorist could not expect evade death or arrest but there have been many suicide attacks in recent years so that is not always an obstacle.

Obviously I sincerely hope nothing of this nature occurs. Intelligence must be flat out at the moment. I just can’t imagine.

I was thinking exactly this. I don’t know how a lone terrorist could possibly be avoided.

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 14/09/2022 07:42

SpinCityBlues · 14/09/2022 07:27

That guy in Edinburgh who heckled Andrew has now been charged (breach of the peace) according to Sky. He shouted, 'you sick old man' before being tackled to the ground by what looks like undercover police officers. His hands were visible at all times around his mouth.

The court case will be more terrible optics the royals if this man pleads not guilty and mounts a spirited defence. It's looking bad enough already that there's a clamp down on the right to protest and express dissenting views.

I think it's getting people's backs up.

Yes, I suspect the charges might end up being withdrawn on this basis. By the time any hearing is held, we aren't going to be in mass crywanking territory still. The public will have moved on to the next thing and the mood will be different.

oakleaffy · 14/09/2022 07:43

sashh · 14/09/2022 03:55

The day before HMQ died there were two consecutive items on the news.

One was about trying to expand school meals to all primary children because they expect children to arrive at school both cold and hungry. That was followed by the then, second, third and fourth in line to the throne starting school at an estimate of £42 000 a year.

I can't have been the only one thinking that the parents who cannot afford to feed their children are paying for royal children to get an education they cannot dream of giving their own children.

The Monarchy should be entirely self- funding, and not helped by the taxpayers.
They are phenomenally wealthy.

Kissingfrogs25 · 14/09/2022 07:45

No I don’t think so. Most, as in the vast majority 99.9% are very respectful. The security will be rock solid.I think it will be a beautiful and memorable event.

You always get bored mumsnetters that have sad lives and are hoping to see trouble/riots/ U.K. going down in the pan perhaps as something to talk about / a distraction from
the real issues in their lives.

SpinCityBlues · 14/09/2022 07:46

So, basically, OP, the MN analysis is that it's all going to be fine for a bit except when it isn't, and that everyone will start getting pissed off as we move into winter, and the police will fuck something up as usual and the royals have too much money.

Hotseatpants · 14/09/2022 07:50

No. Although OP seems to think it would be entertaining, there won’t be riots in London this week. I am a Londoner (central London). Most Londoners and visitors are too busy forelock tugging, expressing rather narcissistic faux grief or posting Queen related rubbish on Instagram.

In general British people are too apathetic or downtrodden to pull themselves away from social media or their own little bubble and assert themselves to join any sort of organised or unorganised protest.

PAFMO · 14/09/2022 07:53

Skolo · 14/09/2022 07:35

Are you actually worried, OP? Or do you hope things will kick off in London?

There are a lot of these posters cropping up.
See also "oooh Charles looks a bit like he might have a heart attack, I do hope he's OK" etc.
They're loving every second of planting the seeds.

DillonPanthersTexas · 14/09/2022 07:53

Well looking at the queues of people waiting to see the queen it seems to be mostly middle aged to OAP types who would not say boo to a goose. Can't imagine them suddenly turning to violence over someone holding an anti monarchist sign up

HRTQueen · 14/09/2022 07:54

MN predicting civil unrest again 🙄

some just can’t wait

of course not anyone who even tries will be outnumbered hugely

irs a security nightmare but not because a few mc hand wringers want to air their views and stir up the wc to riot for them

MarshaBradyo · 14/09/2022 07:54

A lot if posters seem to think about civil unrest in mn a fair bit

But no I doubt it

It will be incredibly well run with security

DillonPanthersTexas · 14/09/2022 07:55

Most Londoners and visitors are too busy forelock tugging, expressing rather narcissistic faux grief or posting Queen related rubbish on Instagram

Most Londoners could not give a fuck to be honest.

freckles20 · 14/09/2022 07:55

Kissingfrogs25 · 14/09/2022 07:45

No I don’t think so. Most, as in the vast majority 99.9% are very respectful. The security will be rock solid.I think it will be a beautiful and memorable event.

You always get bored mumsnetters that have sad lives and are hoping to see trouble/riots/ U.K. going down in the pan perhaps as something to talk about / a distraction from
the real issues in their lives.

Oh yes absolutely. How ridiculous to think the UK might go down the pan.

Horse

Stable

Bolted

SpinCityBlues · 14/09/2022 07:55

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 14/09/2022 07:42

Yes, I suspect the charges might end up being withdrawn on this basis. By the time any hearing is held, we aren't going to be in mass crywanking territory still. The public will have moved on to the next thing and the mood will be different.

Show quote history

Yes, I can imagine the procurator fiscal looking at the file, shaking his or her head in despair, and quietly dropping it in the bin.

Unless however they also loathe Andrew and think, 'oh wait a minute, juicy case here to embarrass the sick old man ...'

Andrew is an absolute liability and word is that Charles will let him wear military uniform for part of the funeral palaver, but not Harry. I think this is going to be the first of many decisions Charles takes that will receive a WTF? reaction from the public and the new king needs to be careful he doesn't piss off his subjects.