https://substack.com/@theromileygazette?
10th January 2026
Serious questions are being asked about the state of free expression and the right to protest in Lib Dem–run Stockport, after a Romiley resident claims police were called in response to a peaceful protest involving nothing more than an A4 paper sign.
The resident says they were threatened with arrest while standing outside Lisa Smart MP’s constituency office, holding a handwritten A4 sign reading “Useless LibDem Councillors.” According to the account, the response was extraordinary: two police cars and a police van, with flashing lights and sirens, attending the scene — twice. The behaviour of Greater Manchester Police officers who attended was described as exemplary, using common sense to dismiss the complaint.
“I wasn’t blocking access, shouting abuse or intimidating anyone. I was standing quietly, holding a piece of paper,” the resident said.
The resident argues that such a response sends a chilling message: that peaceful protest is treated as a public order problem when it embarrasses those in power.
The same resident also alleges they were publicly insulted and shouted down in Romiley Precinct by Lib Dem council leader and Romiley councillor Mark Roberts after daring to say that, as the local councillor, he had done nothing to address long-running problems at Padden Brook. According to the resident, the exchange took place in front of witnesses, and rather than engaging with the concerns raised, the council leader responded with anger. The resident says the incident reinforces a growing perception in Romiley that criticism is met not with accountability or dialogue, but with hostility, particularly when it comes from those most affected by council decisions.
A Pattern of Intimidation?
Concerns are heightened by what residents describe as a wider pattern of intolerance toward dissent. The case of Mr Parnell has also been cited locally as an example of what critics say is heavy-handed treatment of individuals who challenge council decisions or political leadership.
While details differ, residents say the common thread is clear: speak out, and the system closes ranks.
Protest Is Not a Crime
The right to peaceful protest is protected in law and is a cornerstone of democratic society. Holding a sign — even one that is critical, uncomfortable or blunt — is not extremism, not harassment, and not a police matter unless it crosses clear legal thresholds.
“If calling councillors ‘useless’ is enough to trigger police vans and sirens, then we should all be deeply concerned,” the resident said.
Democracy or Deference?
Critics argue that in Stockport, criticism of Lib Dem leadership is increasingly treated as nuisance behaviour rather than democratic participation. Combined with ongoing complaints about planning, consultation and transparency, this latest incident has intensified fears that power is being protected from scrutiny rather than held accountable.
Residents are now asking:
- Who called the police, and why?
- What threat justified such a response?
- And what message does this send to anyone else thinking of speaking out?
Because democracy does not end at the ballot box — and the right to protest should not depend on who is being criticised.
