‘Stop Brexit Man’ wins case on protest limit breach
A court has ruled that Steve Bray’s musical protests — which featured satirical themes from The Muppets and Star Wars, timed to coincide with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s arrival at Parliament — constituted a lawful expression of political dissent.
Steve Bray, widely known as the ‘Stop Brexit Man’, has been cleared by Westminster magistrates of breaching protest restrictions outside Parliament after blasting anti-Tory and anti-Brexit tunes — including reworked versions of The Muppet Show and Darth Vader’s theme.
The City of London magistrates court heard that Bray was approached by police on 20 March 2024 at 11.20am just as then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived for Prime Minister’s Questions in Parliament. They warned him under bylaws not to use speakers in the controlled area of Parliament Square. Despite receiving a notice and map indicating restricted zones, he resumed playing music until officers seized his speakers just after 12.30pm.
— Steve Bray.
Representing himself in court, Steve Bray argued the music was “sporadic” and part of his “fundamental right to protest”. The court heard he used music to amplify his message from Parliament Street to Westminster and gain media visibility.
Deputy District Judge Anthony Woodcock agreed, ruling that Bray’s protest fell within lawful expression. “Lampooning the government through satire is a long tradition in this country,” said Woodcock, noting Bray’s battery-powered equipment, good rapport with police, and the importance of volume to reach his audience.
“He admitted that he is ‘anti-Tory’, which is his words. He believes his is an important message to disseminate. He needs the volume that he uses to get the message across from Parliament Street to the Palace of Westminster,” the judge stated. “How he chooses to express those views is a matter for him.”
Despite complaints from nearby workers about the noise, the stop-Brexit protester apologised and maintained his methods were peaceful and purposeful — including serenading Sunak with Darth Vader’s theme: “Apparently he’s a Star Wars fan.”
Following the court ruling, Steve Bray posted on X, formerly Twitter: “The police wanted me banned from Westminster for five years if they won the case... after the next General Election,” along with a copy of the formal legal notice issued by the Crown Prosecution Service. The notice stated that, had he been convicted, the prosecution intended to seek a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) — a court order imposing restrictions on an individual’s conduct if they have been found guilty of a criminal offence and are deemed to be engaging in anti-social behaviour. In this instance, the proposed CBO would have prohibited Steve Bray from possessing or using amplified sound equipment near Parliament, as well as from encouraging others to do so.
The ban was indeed intended to last for five years, expiring in April 2030.
Commenting on the court’s decision, Steve Bray wrote that it was “a very important victory today at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for all protest — whatever your views or protest.”
He added: “I’ve claimed £1,050 for four court appearances — that is my costs. Every penny is going to the homeless in and around Parliament.”
Bray’s acquittal reinforces the delicate balance between public order and the right to protest — a principle increasingly tested in today’s Britain.
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