Hilary Benn (Lab, Leeds Central) worried the arrests had damaged trust between police and protesters in the future. Heavens, no – they could be the ones having to deal with the eco mob soon. Not that Labour would repeal it, of course. Mr Smith attending an anti-monarchy protest prior back in March 2023 Strange, then, that so many moderate Labour MPs chose to accuse the police and the Government of being heavy-handed.ĭame Diana Johnson (Lab, Hull N) attacked the Government's new Public Order Act which had allowed the police to make their arrests. Given such threats, most sensible-minded voters probably understand the need for police to exercise caution. Others were apparently preparing to spook the horses involved with rape alarms. Some idiots planned to throw paint over the procession. They had received specific intelligence about plots ahead of the big day. Philp explained the Coronation had been a 'once in a lifetime event', which the police were responsible for passing off safely. Imagine a flustered air steward dealing with a passenger complaining about the lack of a vegetarian meal option and you're pretty much there. Responding for the Government was Chris Philp, the tightly buttoned policing minister who always wears a slightly put-upon expression. The issue was raised in the Commons via an Urgent Question from Joanna Cherry QC (SNP, Edinburgh SW) whose whole-hearted support for Smith barely requires comment. Parliament is chock-a-block with yawn-inducing crashers so naturally plenty of like-minded MPs rallied to Smith's defence yesterday. Graham Smith (pictured) is the unsmiling chief executive of anti-monarchist group Republic The way he's carried on these past 48 hours, one would think here was some sort of latter-day Rosa Parks. Thanks to Smith, precious few have been spared the details of his ordeal, be it on television, radio or his over-active Twitter account. Unfortunately for Mr Smith, before he'd even had time to scream some doubtlessly wit-filled soundbite from his rusty megaphone, he and five of his Republic stooges had found themselves being arrested, a move police have now admitted might have been a little de trop.Īnd, boy, haven't we've heard about it. That is the traditional tactic of the Class A bore, you see – to try to suck all joy from life. Mr Smith, in case you were lucky enough to have missed it, is the unsmiling chief executive of anti-monarchist group Republic who, rather than simply ignore Saturday's coronation festivities like most people who aren't enamoured with the royals, chose to toddle along to Trafalgar Square to try to spoil the fun.

In which case Graham Smith is one of life's ocean-going, chateau-bottled wet blankets. They say the definition of a bore is someone who feels the need to tell you everything.

Mr Wonderful by Willow Scarlett