AN Edinburgh MP has demanded an explanation from police after arrests were made in the city during the Queen's funeral cortege along the Royal Mile.
Tommy Sheppard has said in a letter to Chief Constable Iain Livingstone that there "is no freedom of speech if the only political views that are allowed to be expressed are the ones we agree with".
A woman was arrested and charged with allegedly breaching the peace by carrying a sign which read: “F*** imperialism. Abolish the monarchy”. She has been released from custody and is due in court at a later date.
A police source said she had been arrested in relation to her behaviour and not for displaying the banner.
Another man was charged after allegedly shouting abuse at Prince Andrew as he marched behind the Queen’s coffin.
In the letter, Sheppard said he would be "grateful for an explanation" as to what offence officers considered had been committed in these instances.
He said: "I would like to raise with you the reports of arrests of individuals who protested from the crowd during the recent royal funeral events in my constituency. I understand from media reports that one held a sign with anti-monarchy slogans and another heckled Prince Andrew.
"I believe in the right of peaceful protest - and that often includes permitting the expression of speech we find challenging, uncomfortable or disrespectful.
There is no freedom of speech if the only political views that are allowed to be expressed are the ones we agree with. My letter to the Chief Constable following the arrest of anti-monarchy protesters in my constituency ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/vVzUwFFp06
— Tommy Sheppard MP (@TommySheppard) September 20, 2022
"There is no freedom of speech if the only political views that are allowed to be expressed are the ones we agree with.
"And I am sure you will agree that the police should not be being put into the position of being seen to take sides on an issue where there is a difference of political opinion.
"I would therefore be grateful for an explanation of what offence officers considered had been committed in these instances.
"I understand that those arrested are being charged with breach of the peace, which has a wide application in Scots law. However, it seems to me that most reasonable people would regard it as inappropriate and excessive to use this offence to curtail political expression or dissent.
“I am firmly of the belief that, unless those arrested are believed to be guilty of a more specific offence against persons or property, charges should be dropped.”
Alex Staniforth, a Greens councillor on Edinburgh's Culture and Communities Committee, has previously said he would also write to the head of Police Scotland raising his concerns about arrests.
