THE CEO of an anti-monarchy group has said a comment made by Lindsay Hoyle about the Queen's funeral was “one of the most stupid things the world has ever heard”.
Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg ahead of the Queen’s funeral, the Speaker of the House of Commons said: “We should not allow anything to overshadow the most important event the world will ever see and that’s the funeral of her Majesty and the passing of her Majesty has brought people together.”
The Queen’s funeral is set to take place on Monday with world leaders and foreign royals set to gather inside Westminster Abbey for the funeral.
Graham Smith, CEO of anti-monarchy group Republic, told The National: “I think that’s one of the most stupid things the world has ever heard.
“It’s a ridiculous comment that it’s even anywhere close to the most important event.
“If other events somehow overshadow it then so be it. Most of the country are going to be doing other things and we need to stop pretending that this is the whole country mourning."
Following the Queen’s death, there have been a series of arrests of anti-monarchy protesters, including a 22-year-old man in Edinburgh who shouted abuse at Prince Andrew as the late monarch’s funeral cortege made its way up the Royal Mile.
A petition to remove Andrew as the Earl of Inverness now has almost 9000 signatures.
Speaking to The National, campaign group Our Republic said: “It’s indicative of an establishment that believes it is appropriate to put parliament on hold for two weeks as a crushing cost of living crisis looms to believe nothing else could be of importance to ordinary people.
“You do not have to look far to see the lie beneath the charade. Even the BBC has a list of most-read articles showing the public are looking for everything else that’s of importance to them.
“From the economic crisis to Ukraine, from cancelled concerts to football. Despite the best attempts of so many – life goes on.”
Following the arrest of one of their members in Edinburgh, Our Republic said the international media had been queueing up to speak to them but that there had been “almost complete radio silence” from UK media outlets.
Voices from various Scottish political parties, including the SNP and Scottish Greens, were critical of the police’s decision to arrest some anti-monarchy protesters.
A demonstration was held outside St Giles' Cathedral, where the Queen lay in state in Scotland, in solidarity with those who had been arrested for questioning the monarchy and King Charles’s ascension to the throne.
Our Republic continued: “People still need to pay their bills and find their entertainment.
“This isn’t even the most important event to much of the British public, let alone the world. Hoyle and those like him would be better placed processing their personal feelings for what they are, personal, and avoid projecting them on to everyone else.”
The funeral service will take place at 11am and is expected to last one hour, with the royal family then walking in procession with the coffin to Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, where they will arrive at 1pm.
