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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
mpsw · 14/09/2022 10:50

PolkadotsAndCandyfloss · 14/09/2022 01:29

It has crossed my mind. Also the risk of terrorism with having so many world leaders in one place.

This is a risk - it's a huge event, spread over quite a wide area, with known timings and routes. And which had more VVVIPs in one place than just about any other event ever.

imissedabit · 14/09/2022 10:51

@EmmaH2022 Agreed. I think there are a lot of very smugly well-off people on mumsnet. They appear to almost be working to jeer at would-be dissenters. 😉

SleeplessInEngland · 14/09/2022 10:52

Nothing will happen beyond a few minor arrests. People not interested will just enjoy a bank holiday.

donttalkaboutbookclub · 14/09/2022 10:52

I think the coronation might be more controversial for people as there will be a long run up to it and plenty of time to organise.

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 14/09/2022 10:54

Tierne · 14/09/2022 10:43

@MarieIVanArkleStinks
War in iraq protests were 20 years ago now, poll tax riots 30 years ago. If you look across the channel and eg the gilets jaunes, clearly the UK is not a country of protest.

Clearly, yes. We're a country of evolution, not revolution. But you conveniently omitted the other examples I mentioned. Not forgetting, of course, the opposition to Maggie Thatcher's funeral.

The underlying point is that if individual voices of dissent are publicly squashed and people are beginning to protest to that on a more widescale basis, these things tend to have a snowball effect. Trust in the establishment is already at an all-time low and faith in the police has noticeably diminished since Sarah Everard.

And whilst I doubt there'll be any major riots at someone's funeral, those voices of opposition are slowly becoming louder and more insistent.

We'll see if they are still this restrained at the coronation.

herecomesthsun · 14/09/2022 10:55

I sort of missed out on the news a bit in 2011 (complicated pregnancy & illness). I remember being more worried at the time of the financial crisis in 2008.

I do think that there is an opportunity here for the Royals to commit resources to some well-thought-through social action and do some good and also foster public opinion a bit, if that is what they want. I think there is potential for public opinion to dip a bit over the winter, alongside a lot of genuine hardship.

I am not a natural royalist, but I do think the Duke of Edinburgh scheme is excellent, providing a clear incentive and support for young people to do pretty wholesome stuff with their mates, get them away from screens and find out that they actually enjoy camping / volunteering etc.

I wonder is there a way they could big that up a bit for the children and young people who have lived through the covid years? It could be a really positive thing.

RoseAndRose · 14/09/2022 10:56

donttalkaboutbookclub · 14/09/2022 10:52

I think the coronation might be more controversial for people as there will be a long run up to it and plenty of time to organise.

The major organisations calling for a republic have suspended public operations during national mourning.

I don't think they'll hold back at the time of the next coronation

imissedabit · 14/09/2022 11:00

If the police attempt heavy-handed policing, it will be the spark that lights a bonfire. I doubt that there will be any organised protests at the funeral. There will be possibly some lone protestors. How the police handle something like that will determine how safe the event is. If they go mental, it will spark.

Nospringchix · 14/09/2022 11:00

theworldhas · 14/09/2022 09:14

I have no respect for the British monarchy whatsoever but it’s not the monarchy that ought to see riots - it’s 50 years of Tory privatisation and neoliberalism which have now got the country on its needs with millions teetering on the edge of poverty, a massive increase in homelessness, the average age of home ownership at 40, child services, schools and libraries starved of funds etc. We keep voting for this shit.

Absolutely. Agree with 100 percent of this.

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 14/09/2022 11:00

imissedabit · 14/09/2022 10:44

The lyrics of that song are insanely apt in the current climate.

I have to say that I would welcome civil uprising and would be marching at the front of the parade.

I was most surprised to discover that armed police appear to now be 'on the beat' rather than responding to specific incidents. This is an interesting article from 5 days ago in relation to the murder of Chris Kaba.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/armed-police-patrol-on-the-rise-people-are-terrified-black-communities-b2162596.html

The full article is worth reading, but here are some of the bits I found most alarming.

Mr Kaba’s family had requested for it to be cancelled, urging well-wishers to “ respect our wishes as Chris’ family and allow us to coordinate the various activities we expect in the coming weeks”.
“With the changes to the law around protest it is important to ensure that all gatherings are not only peaceful but also legal. Black communities are often over-policed under the misconception that we act violently, disorderly and with criminality,” a family statement issued on Thursday reads.

“People are worried about armed patrols; If we’re starting to have more gun patrols then we need to know. At the end of the day, this is going to alter people’s behaviour. It’s going to alter mine and I haven’t done anything wrong!

Mr Kaba is the third Black man known to have died following contact with UK police officers in the past three months.
Oladedji Omishore, 41, fell into the Thames after being Tasered on Chelsea Bridge in June, whilst he was experiencing a mental health crisis.
A 35-year-old Black man who lived in a care home died after contact with Devon and Cornwall Police in July.

I genuinely was not aware that some police on patrol were armed.

I also recently watched a film called Battle in Seattle or something like that (I watched it as it had Channing Tatum but he only has a minor role in it as it turns out). It's about a fiasco during protests at a meeting of the WTO. Based on real events. Worth a watch actually.

I am personally becoming increasingly opposed to British policing. I am personally nervous about my health and money! I would love to organise a riot myself. Well, maybe not a riot. I think there are a lot of different pots which are coming to boiling point. If they all kick off together, it will be difficult to settle them all at once.

My personal feeling is that policing is the thing most likely to cause rioting. If they get it wrong this week they're utterly fucked. Disarming them (if that's on the cards - I wasn't sure whether the poster who mentioned that was joking or real) is probably the wisest thing that they can do this week.

Agree. Times are nothing short of terrifying.

imissedabit · 14/09/2022 11:01

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 14/09/2022 10:54

Clearly, yes. We're a country of evolution, not revolution. But you conveniently omitted the other examples I mentioned. Not forgetting, of course, the opposition to Maggie Thatcher's funeral.

The underlying point is that if individual voices of dissent are publicly squashed and people are beginning to protest to that on a more widescale basis, these things tend to have a snowball effect. Trust in the establishment is already at an all-time low and faith in the police has noticeably diminished since Sarah Everard.

And whilst I doubt there'll be any major riots at someone's funeral, those voices of opposition are slowly becoming louder and more insistent.

We'll see if they are still this restrained at the coronation.

Show quote history

I concur.

imissedabit · 14/09/2022 11:04

@MarieIVanArkleStinks It's almost as if we posted the same post in different words!

MarshaBradyo · 14/09/2022 11:05

I can’t see the coronation being that different to the Jubilee in feel and appetite for rioting

But we’ll see I suppose. I think some have been saying we’ll see riots at every stage of last few years on mn.

imissedabit · 14/09/2022 11:07

MarshaBradyo · 14/09/2022 11:05

I can’t see the coronation being that different to the Jubilee in feel and appetite for rioting

But we’ll see I suppose. I think some have been saying we’ll see riots at every stage of last few years on mn.

I think that people do want to riot and they want to protest but they're far too conformist to actually do it. I think Priti Patel introduced a new law against protesting after the M50 protests from Insulate Britain? Don't quote me on that as I'm not that well informed.

PixellatedPixie · 14/09/2022 11:09

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.

I’m a foreigner so maybe more able to be neutral on the topic. Many independent studies have said that the Royals being in more money than they cost. They have enough personal wealth either way that there kids will definitely go to private schools. Even if Kate Middleton hadn’t married into royalty, her family is immensely wealthy in their own right. Their school fees are pocket change compared to what day their security for a week would cost!

Fififelix · 14/09/2022 11:13

Nope it's getting colder people riot more in the summer. There's a genuine respect from a lot of republicans towards the Queen. I'm republican but I admire her length of service and how she was hosting the PM 2 days before death. I'm not keen on Charles and I think after mourning and the period of adjustment there might be talks about the monarchy but in respect for the Queen no one should be making trouble.

ginghamstarfish · 14/09/2022 11:17

No, can't imagine there will be, other than perhaps those XR twats gluing themselves to something, as if the police don't have enough on at present.

newnamethanks · 14/09/2022 11:20

No. I think it's extremely unlikely. Won't rule it out for later in the year when the Royal stuff is over though.

imissedabit · 14/09/2022 11:23

As it's a state funeral (I think that's what it's called?), how many world leaders will be in attendance? Who coordinates the security? Does each country coordinate the personal security for their visiting representatives or does the Met or MI5 take over the whole thing?

I have a friend who is security detail for some Middle Eastern family (he can't tell me who). He can't carry a weapon over here, but they live in Paris a lot too and he can 'carry' there. How does that work under gun laws here for visiting dignitaries?

lenny17 · 14/09/2022 11:23

Thanks for this. I'm struggling to navigate it. I have found some helpful, relevant threads. To be honest putting my phone away might be more beneficial.
💟

Phos · 14/09/2022 11:24

Let's hope any silly protests are quashed and anyone leading them arrested for civil unrest.

imissedabit · 14/09/2022 11:26

Phos · 14/09/2022 11:24

Let's hope any silly protests are quashed and anyone leading them arrested for civil unrest.

Let's hope that quashing the villagers doesn't happen or then the little people might just become a little bigger than your view of them.

FetlocksBlowingInTheWind · 14/09/2022 11:28

I don't think so (but what do I know?)

As a PP said, more likely this winter, as all kind of hardships take hold.

If this was happening in January, then maybe.

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 14/09/2022 11:29

imissedabit · 14/09/2022 11:04

@MarieIVanArkleStinks It's almost as if we posted the same post in different words!

Agree. I've been spending far too much time on this site this week (I'm on sick leave at present) because a bit of measured, balanced discussion is so refreshing after all the black ribbons, black website edging, dismal messages and mawkishness being foisted on the public practically everywhere else. Even if all you want to do is a bit of online shopping, it's inescapable.

It's a relief to find that members of MN, at least, are airing reasoned differences of opinion as well as finding a lot of common ground. Some very important issues are at stake here beyond the funeral of a Head of State. They should be discussed.

imissedabit · 14/09/2022 11:30

I was actually a little surprised to read that both Harry and William travelled in the same Range Rover after the Queen's death. I think it was on the journey back or something. In most risk assessments, you tend to not want more than one target in the same vehicle. Perhaps Harry is no longer considered a target or perhaps they thought that anyone who saw William as a target wouldn't shoot while Harry was there. I think Harry is viewed favourably outside of the UK and outside of royalists.