ANTI-MUSLIM figures Jayda Fransen and Richard Inman have denied playing a role in organising illegal lockdown protests across the UK after being linked to the events.
Fransen, the former deputy leader of Britain First, and Inman, anti-Muslim protester, were both associated with the plans for mass public gatherings featuring picnics to take place across Scotland and the rest of the UK this weekend in opposition to coronavirus restrictions.
Scotland’s First Minister yesterday warned those taking part in the events in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen would be committing an illegal act, while Police Scotland "strongly urged" people not to attend them, making it clear they are prohibited.
The event was promoted via flyers circulated on social media from an organisation calling itself the UK Freedom Movement.
READ MORE: Lockdown protest picnics are 'putting lives at risk'
The advertisements declared the group says “no to the Coronavirus Bill, no to mandatory vaccines, no to the new normal and no to the unlawful lockdown”.
Nobody took responsibility for the organisation of the events, but Fransen was linked to them through a firm set up on Companies House at the end of April.
The former Britain First deputy leader is listed as the sole director of Freedom Movement Ltd, which lists its correspondence address as the same one used for companies set up in Britain’s First name.
Meanwhile Inman, a Tommy Robinson supporter, is the co-founder of a protest group named the UK Freedom Movement.
He took to YouTube last night to deny having involvement in the organisation of the protests but said he would defend the rights of people wishing to attend them, despite them being illegal under legislation drawn up to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Inman said: “I absolutely defend your right to go to those demonstrations to protest peacefully and safely and I say all the best to you.”
Similarly, Belfast-based journalist Amanda Ferguson reported that Fransen had insisted she had no role in the planning of the protests.
On Twitter, she posted: “A statement has been issued by former TUV councillor Jolene Bunting on behalf of Jayda Fransen. Ms Fransen says she and the ‘British Freedom Movement’ have nothing to do with the ‘PICNIC OF DEATH IN THE PARK’ lockdown protests due to take place this weekend.
“The statement says Ms Fransen is ‘seeking legal advice’ regarding statements made publicly by elected officials including @SeamasBelfast and Lord John Mann. She says she has ‘received death threats’ and ‘denounces’ the ‘idiotic plans’ of the ‘UK Freedom Movement’.”
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