Latest news with #BrexitMan
The Hill
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Britain's ‘Stop Brexit Man' acquitted by judge over his musical protests outside Parliament
LONDON (AP) — An anti- Brexit activist who has spent years mounting a one-man protest outside Britain's Parliament won a court victory on Monday against a police attempt to pull the plug on his musical activities. A judge in London cleared Steve Bray, known as 'Stop Brexit Man,' of failing to comply with a police order to stop playing amplified music in Parliament Square on March 20, 2024. Bray, 56, came to prominence in the years after Britain's 2016 vote to leave the European Union by bellowing 'Stop Brexit' near television reporters during live broadcasts while wearing a top hat in the blue and yellow of the EU flag. More recently he has taken to playing satirically tinged songs before Parliament's weekly Prime Minister's Questions session, including the theme from 'The Muppet Show' and Darth Vader's theme from 'Star Wars.' He blasted 'Things Can Only Get Better' outside 10 Downing St. while then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called an election in May 2024. Bray, who represented himself during his trial, argued that the music was part of his 'fundamental right to protest,' and Deputy District Judge Anthony Woodcock agreed. Handing down a not-guilty verdict at Westminster Magistrates' Court, the judge said Bray believes he has 'an important message to disseminate.' 'How he chooses to express those views is a matter for him,' the judge said, noting that 'lampooning the government through satire is a long tradition in this country.' After the verdict, Bray said that 'today is a very important day, not just for us as protesters, but for everybody's freedom of expression and their right to protest.' 'Regardless what side of the fence you're on, whatever your protest is, this is a victory for you,' he said.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Britain's 'Stop Brexit Man' acquitted by judge over his musical protests outside Parliament
LONDON (AP) — An anti- Brexit activist who has spent years mounting a one-man protest outside Britain's Parliament won a court victory on Monday against a police attempt to pull the plug on his musical activities. A judge in London cleared Steve Bray, known as 'Stop Brexit Man,' of failing to comply with a police order to stop playing amplified music in Parliament Square on March 20, 2024. Bray, 56, came to prominence in the years after Britain's 2016 vote to leave the European Union by bellowing 'Stop Brexit' near television reporters during live broadcasts while wearing a top hat in the blue and yellow of the EU flag. More recently he has taken to playing satirically tinged songs before Parliament's weekly Prime Minister's Questions session, including the theme from 'The Muppet Show' and Darth Vader's theme from 'Star Wars.' He blasted 'Things Can Only Get Better' outside 10 Downing St. while then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called an election in May 2024. Bray, who represented himself during his trial, argued that the music was part of his 'fundamental right to protest,' and Deputy District Judge Anthony Woodcock agreed. Handing down a not-guilty verdict at Westminster Magistrates' Court, the judge said Bray believes he has 'an important message to disseminate.' 'How he chooses to express those views is a matter for him,' the judge said, noting that 'lampooning the government through satire is a long tradition in this country.' After the verdict, Bray said that 'today is a very important day, not just for us as protesters, but for everybody's freedom of expression and their right to protest.' 'Regardless what side of the fence you're on, whatever your protest is, this is a victory for you,' he said.
Associated Press
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Britain's 'Stop Brexit Man' acquitted by judge over his musical protests outside Parliament
LONDON (AP) — An anti- Brexit activist who has spent years mounting a one-man protest outside Britain's Parliament won a court victory on Monday against a police attempt to pull the plug on his musical activities. A judge in London cleared Steve Bray, known as 'Stop Brexit Man,' of failing to comply with a police order to stop playing amplified music in Parliament Square on March 20, 2024. Bray, 56, came to prominence in the years after Britain's 2016 vote to leave the European Union by bellowing 'Stop Brexit' near television reporters during live broadcasts while wearing a top hat in the blue and yellow of the EU flag. More recently he has taken to playing satirically tinged songs before Parliament's weekly Prime Minister's Questions session, including the theme from 'The Muppet Show' and Darth Vader's theme from 'Star Wars.' He blasted 'Things Can Only Get Better' outside 10 Downing St. while then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called an election in May 2024. Bray, who represented himself during his trial, argued that the music was part of his 'fundamental right to protest,' and Deputy District Judge Anthony Woodcock agreed. Handing down a not-guilty verdict at Westminster Magistrates' Court, the judge said Bray believes he has 'an important message to disseminate.' 'How he chooses to express those views is a matter for him,' the judge said, noting that 'lampooning the government through satire is a long tradition in this country.' After the verdict, Bray said that 'today is a very important day, not just for us as protesters, but for everybody's freedom of expression and their right to protest.' 'Regardless what side of the fence you're on, whatever your protest is, this is a victory for you,' he said.
The Independent
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Britain's 'Stop Brexit Man' acquitted by judge over his musical protests outside Parliament
An anti- Brexit activist who has spent years mounting a one-man protest outside Britain's Parliament won a court victory on Monday against a police attempt to pull the plug on his musical activities. A judge in London cleared Steve Bray, known as 'Stop Brexit Man,' of failing to comply with a police order to stop playing amplified music in Parliament Square on March 20, 2024. Bray, 56, came to prominence in the years after Britain 's 2016 vote to leave the European Union by bellowing 'Stop Brexit' near television reporters during live broadcasts while wearing a top hat in the blue and yellow of the EU flag. More recently he has taken to playing satirically tinged songs before Parliament's weekly Prime Minister's Questions session, including the theme from 'The Muppet Show' and Darth Vader's theme from 'Star Wars.' He blasted 'Things Can Only Get Better' outside 10 Downing St. while then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called an election in May 2024. Bray, who represented himself during his trial, argued that the music was part of his 'fundamental right to protest,' and Deputy District Judge Anthony Woodcock agreed. Handing down a not-guilty verdict at Westminster Magistrates' Court, the judge said Bray believes he has 'an important message to disseminate.' 'How he chooses to express those views is a matter for him,' the judge said, noting that 'lampooning the government through satire is a long tradition in this country.' After the verdict, Bray said that 'today is a very important day, not just for us as protesters, but for everybody's freedom of expression and their right to protest.' 'Regardless what side of the fence you're on, whatever your protest is, this is a victory for you,' he said.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brexit protestor Steve Bray cleared of wrongdoing outside Parliament
Steve Bray has been cleared of flouting a police ban after anti-Brexit edits of The Muppet Show and Darth Vader's theme outside Parliament. Bray, 56, also known as Stop Brexit Man, was playing music on March 20 last year before then-prime minister Rishi Sunak arrived for Prime Minister's Questions. On Monday, Bray from Port Talbot, South Wales, was found not guilty of failing without reasonable excuse to comply with a direction given under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 're prohibited activities in Parliament Square' at Westminster Magistrates' Court. After the verdict, the defendant, wearing a blue and white short-sleeved shirt, looked at his supporters in the public gallery, one of whom gave him a thumbs up. A very important victory today at Westminster magistrates for all protest whatever your views or protest. — 4th July - Tory wipe Out (@snb19692) April 14, 2025 Police approached Bray around 11.20am, minutes before Mr Sunak arrived ahead of Prime Minister's Questions, and handed him a map and a notice that warned he is prohibited from playing the speakers in the controlled area under a by-law, the court heard. The music resumed intermittently and shortly after 12.33pm, officers seized the speakers, his trial at City of London Magistrates' Court was told. Bray, who represented himself, denied the charge and told a previous hearing that playing music was part of his 'fundamental right to protest' and that they were played 'sporadically', rather than all day. The Muppets and Darth Vader themes were used 'as the prime minister came in, which is what we always did for Rishi – apparently he's a Star Wars fan', the activist told the court. During his previous trial, Bray had told police their map, illustrating where he could not use the speakers, was incorrect. Body-worn footage featured Bray, wearing a yellow and blue top hat, repeatedly telling police, 'You've got the wrong map'. He said it was outdated and officers would learn that by asking someone higher up in the chain of command. Recommended reading: Health to travel - All the free benefits available to pensioners and over 60s Nationwide paying £100 free bonus into certain customers accounts Great white sharks could be found in UK waters soon according to marine experts When told he was not allowed to play there, Bray stuck his fingers in his ears and said: 'No it's not, it's not, not here – it's not wrong here', the court heard. 'I know what I can't do', he said, suggesting officers stick it 'where the sun don't shine' before lighting a cigarette and looking away. Several witnesses described to the court the negative impact of Bray's music, which could be heard as high as the sixth floor in nearby buildings. After this, the defendant apologised. Bray is known for playing music in protest around Westminster, including D:Ream's Things Can Only Get Better at the gates of Downing Street when Mr Sunak announced the general election in the pouring rain last May.
