The Aporia
The Aporia
Cordon, G. (2026, October 21). MI5 feared disruption of George VI coronation. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/george-vi-mi5-king-communist-party-national-archives-b1301846.html
Cordon, Gavin. “MI5 feared disruption of George VI coronation.” Evening Standard, 21 Oct. 2026, https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/george-vi-mi5-king-communist-party-national-archives-b1301846.html.
Cordon, Gavin. “MI5 feared disruption of George VI coronation.” Evening Standard, October 21, 2026. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/george-vi-mi5-king-communist-party-national-archives-b1301846.html.
Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.
In April 1937, MI5 feared disruption during the coronation of King George VI. The security agency reported that while the Communist Party planned a massive propaganda effort, distributing a million anti-monarchist leaflets during coronation week, they warned party members to avoid antagonizing the largely pro-royalist public. A "comrade" in Manchester was severely censured for proposing demonstrations, as it would play into the hands of fascists and police. Party members were instructed to use charabanc drives to the countryside to spread anti-monarchist propaganda cautiously. Despite these instructions, one member in Poplar, east London, complained loudly about "all this nonsense," indicating that not all members adhered to the cautionary guidelines.
a “comrade” in Manchester had been “severely censured” for proposing a series of demonstrations as it would be “playing into the hands of the fascists and police”.
