The deputy chairman of the Conservative Party has been criticised for telling anti-monarchy activists to “emigrate”. Lee Anderson was commenting on the arrests of protesters from the Republic group ahead of the coronation on Saturday morning.
Police have face criticism after a number of people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, a move described by human rights organisations as “a dangerous precedent for us as a democratic nation”.
But Mr Anderson appeared to side with the police, especially against protesters who were holding up signs reading Not My King near Buckingham Palace. Sharing an article on the arrests on Twitter, Mr Anderson wrote: “Not My King? If you do not wish to live in a country that has a monarchy the solution is not to turn up with your silly boards. The solution is to emigrate.”
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Critics on social media condemned his “anti-democratic” remarks and pointed out the right to protest peacefully, while others expressed support for his opinion.
Jonathan Harris, a Lib Dem councillor in West Northamptonshire, tweeted: “30 p Lee – Idiot on display. You took the rights away for British people to live and work across the EU, and forget that great democracies are built on and absolutely allow the right to peaceful protest.”
It is not the first time the Ashfield MP has proved controversial, having previously called for the return of the death penalty and claiming people on Universal Credit were not in poverty.
He has been dubbed “30p Lee” for claiming that meals could be prepared for that sum and suggesting people using food banks could not budget. Mr Anderson recently clashed with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley over the force’s handling of protests, telling him to “leave his ivory tower” to deal with demonstrators in Westminster.
Under the controversial new Public Order Act, protesters who have an object with the intention of using it to “lock on” are liable to a fine, with those who block roads facing 12 months in prison.
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