in the same way you are free to support his actions and would do the same yourself, I am free to find them despicable.

I know a XR Lieutenant (yes, they give themselves military ranks), I know exactly how they operate and their purpose, and if you think it’s about the environment, you are a bigger wally than Mr Bellend himself.

(What a name!)

Just watched the video and how did he desecrate the memorial? He never once touched a wreath. He stepped very carefully and considerately. Just trying to see
where everyone’s wrath is coming from? I can’t see anything on the video.

The dead (especially our servicemen and women) should not be used for propaganda....it's immoral....simple really when you think about it....

Most naive statement ever.

BVRAAM, you come across as exceptionally patronising. If you read more carefully you’ll note that I clearly mention Parliamentary privilege applying “in other circumstances”. In other words, not to this particular case.

Your position seems to be grounded in the mistaken idea that the right of free expression is accompanied by an entitlement to a platform. The Cenotaph fits most people’s definition of an inappropriate platform for any message besides one of remembrance, especially around Armistice Day. ‘Silencing’ XR’s act is no more a breach of free speech than broadcasters and masters of ceremonies pulling the plug on speakers as they ramble off-topic, or councils cleaning off graffiti.

Posters on this thread already had an option and aired their dirty laundry without even so much as checking for facts.

Now back to the 'plane talk?

How many Extinction Rebellion protesters does it take to change a light globe?

Nobody knows, they have never changed anything...

Funny how they do their cause the opposite of what they aim to achieve.

It's because of people like them disrupting our lives that make everyone want to do the complete opposite and vote for Trump...

When I was at University in the 70s it was the Trotskyists .
They transmogrified into the Greenpeace then the Socialist Alliance and now Getup and XR.
There is a proportion of society that lives in a state of permanent grievance and whose solution is always the same.
A variation of Fascism / Communism / Trotskyism / Maoism blah blah blah.....
The cycle repeats.
The Enlightenment , Reformation and the defeat of Communism / Fascism may be historic aberrations.
Normal service will be resumed..........

When I was at university in London's East End at the beginning of the '70s, there wasn't such a plethora of groups. 'SocSoc' was a bunch of noisy socialists, there were anti-Barclays Bank protesters (due to Barclays DCO having South African investments in the apartheid era), Peter Hain and the Anti-Apartheid Movement, NUS protests etc. Skinheads threatening 'bovver' were soon reminded that, even though they were behind bars, The Twins didn't approve of casual crime or street violence on 'their manor'.....

Fortunately the University Air Squadron held much greater interest - and as APOs we were well paid after 1970!

I support the OP. In my view this stunt did amount to desecration, never mind if wreaths were trodden on or deftly avoided. Whether one supports the ideals of those involved or not, they were wrong to promote them on that date and at that place. The Cenotaph means so much to those who've lost those to whom it is dedicated. It means less or nothing to those who have used it over the years to express their protests or anger, against whom or whatever. There is a growing tendency these days to demand one's own rights, including an ever widening interpretation of what is 'free speech', rather than a consideration of the rights of others.

In wearing his uniform to conduct this act of desecration this ex soldier brought shame upon it as well as himself. Single item agenda lists always skew any resultant acts towards the disproportionate and inappropriate. This act was completely inappropriate and unjustified.

XR offer no solution only a lack of respect and disruption to those going about their business and are usually in the form of down trodden leftie types such as the great unwashed, the unemployed and students.
They shout, scream, tantrum and holler like juviniles, Whereas those making a difference to reduce climate change, across all industries, quietly innovate, create employment and better peoples lives for a lower carbon future

I have no love for groups such as XR or any others, however I watched the video several times and I did not see him stepping on wreaths, he was in fact quite respectful as far as I could see.

Rory

The wreath was significantly bigger than the others and placed higher up than the others which is not in accordance with normal "Flag Ettiquette".

The Metropolitan Police took no action, just sat in their van.

That would probably be because it wasn’t a police matter. He hadn’t broken any laws. So why would they intervene? “Flag Ettiquette”. Seriously?

I don’t go in for XR and wish they would just go away, but he didn’t lay a placard. He laid a wreath. You may not like that it didn’t conform with your perceived standards, but it was a wreath.

What I saw was that this was in London and when he was interviewed the next day we was, presumably, at home in Cambridge
Which part of essential work journeys only did he not understand. ..
So why did he not do this in Cambridge....ah yes national reporting.. Egotistical git....

Actually Remembrance Day activities were exempt from travel restrictions. Otherwise all those others there would have been guilty of the same offence. I don’t imagine they all lived within walking distance of the centotaph.

There was a time if a soldier was still wearing the uniform he could be charged under the Kings regulations .
What changed ? If the protestor is still wearing the uniform is he not under the rules and regulations ?

Again. What rule or regulation would he have broken?

Not familiar enough with the modern Codes to give a specific charge On a charge sheet to someone offering a provocation to disturb the peace .
Such disrespect is definitely a provocation and most might be forgiven for reacting to such an affront and provocation . Not everyone has the hard discipline to turn the other cheek to Extremist provocations against our cultural heritage . Heritage that was once defended by Blood.