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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
James Walker

Anti-monarchy activists set to protest the King’s Speech outside Westminster

HUNDREDS of anti-monarchy protesters are expected to turn up outside of the UK Parliament for the King’s Speech.

It will be the first republican protest in London since the multiple arrests made at the monarch's coronation in May.

Twenty-one people were arrested on the day, but will face no further action after the Metropolitan Police said the Crown Prosecution Service had reviewed the evidence and concluded there was “no realistic prospect of conviction”.

Campaign group Republic said the message of the protest on Tuesday is simple: “Our campaign is about more than the monarch, it's about the place of the Crown in parliament and the ramshackle state of our constitution.”

Speaking for the group, managing director Graham Smith added: "Our parliament is opened by a king wearing a crown while sitting in the Lords.

"It is just weird we continue with this pantomime that celebrates the worst, least democratic aspects of our political system."

"Republic continues to enjoy unprecedented growth since the coronation. Our continued programme of protests serves to remind people of the need for a democratic alternative to the monarchy.

"The monarchy is wrong in principle, corrupt and secretive in practice and bad for British politics. It's time it went, and polling shows an increasing number of people agree."

Protesters will be outside Westminster from 8:30am onwards and King Charles is expected to arrive between 11 and 11:30am.

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