It must be a hard job being the Metropolitan Police. Too hardline and you risk howls of protest from the left; too soft and you’re lambasted by the right. So Steerpike is pleased to bring his readers news of a policing decision that will please all inhabitants of the Westminster village, regardless of their political affiliation.

For six long, miserable years, Steve Bray – the Hiroo Onoda of the Remain campaign – has tormented those who work in and around Whitehall, blaring out music from his loudspeakers on Wednesday mornings before PMQs. But last week the artist known as ‘Stop Brexit man’ met his comeuppance after the Met sent some rozzers down to confiscate his sound set, much to Bray’s chagrin.

‘The Met Police just seized both amplifiers here at parliament’, howled Bray in a post on Twitter/X. He posted a series of videos of his speakers being removed, adding ‘This is Tory Britain today. If you can’t protest legitimately, you have to find other means.’ In a statement, the boys in blue told Mr S:

On Wednesday 20 March an individual in Whitehall had his amplifying equipment seized by Met officers. The man was using the equipment in a zone where the use of amplified equipment is prohibited. He was spoken to by officers on multiple occasions in relation to specific legislation regarding the use of the amplifying equipment and was warned that it would be seized if he persisted. The equipment was seized under S145 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. No arrests have been made; a file will be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.

One relieved Westminster watcher told Mr S that: ‘Thousands of people who work within earshot of Steve Bray’s sound system will be relieved that it has finally been silenced. The only question is why the police took so long to act when people have been pleading with them for months, if not years.’ Peace at last. You can watch the removal of Bray’s speakers below:

The Met Police just seized both amplifiers here at Parliament. This is Tory Britain today. If you can’t protest legitimately, you have to find other means. pic.twitter.com/zFHkYHTwkx

— GET TORIES DONE – GENERAL ELECTION NOW! (@snb19692) March 20, 2024