The Metropolitan Police has said that it will not allow free speech during the funeral procession for former Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher. People wearing t-shirts with a message critical of Thatcher will be arrested, the London police force has announced.
The Metropolitan Police used similarly partisan tactics in support of monarchy during a major Windsor family wedding in 2011. At that time it made what were called “pre-emptive arrests” taking into custody republicans it thought might protest against the feudal institution of monarchy.
The police announcement follows the decision of the state-sponsored BBC not to play Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead on its chart show if it reached number one.