Brave poppy sellers return to UK railway stations after fears of pro-Palestinian protests saw sales stall
BRAVE poppy sellers returned to railway stations yesterday after we told how many volunteers had stopped collecting over fears for their security.
Vendors did a roaring trade at hubs from which Royal British Legion stalls had vanished because of concerns about intimidation from pro-Palestinian protesters.
Many upped sticks after claims a veteran was attacked in Edinburgh, sellers disappearing from London’s Liverpool Street following a 500-strong demo and, among other stations, Leeds.
Royal British Legion helpers were back at both yesterday and London’s Charing Cross also had a stall — one helper returning days after he and others were surrounded by placard-waving pro- Palestine protesters in disturbing scenes.
At London’s Paddington, Tracy Cooper, 65, showed our ‘Where have all the poppies gone?’ front page yesterday — and vowed to defy protesters. She said: “I’ve been here for the whole two weeks in the build up to Remembrance Sunday.
“My father was in the Navy in the Second World War and my grandfather was in the Army in World War One.
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“This is important as a mark of respect for all the services who fought for us to be free and there have been lots of people getting their poppies here.”
The Liverpool Street seller, standing at the entrance to the Tube from the main station, had a busy day after a bugle player had sounded The Last Post at 11am as a tribute to the fallen.
Commuter Shravan Joshi, 48, from Epsom, Surrey, said: “People should be able to offer poppies in a secure environment. I’m very glad to see them out again. It makes people aware of the service given for the country.”
At Leeds station, ex-soldier Garry Wright, 43, was delighted by the flow of commuters buying poppies. He said: “We’ve done very well today.”
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Poppy buyer Syd Newman, 19, said: “I have always supported the poppy sellers. It is so important that we remember.”
Our revelations yesterday sparked outrage, with PM Rishi Sunak saying he was “appalled that some poppy sellers have experienced intimidation and abuse”.
Stratford, Victoria, London Bridge, King’s Cross and Euston Stations in London were still free of poppy sellers.
Tory MP Bob Seely said: “Millions of people across the country will be dismayed and appalled a rent-a-mob seem to be intimidating poppy sellers.”
Transport Secretary Mark Harper vowed last night to ensure that poppy sellers have police backing at rail stations ahead of Remembrance weekend.
He said officers will keep the network free of violent pro-Palestine protesters.
The Royal British Legion, which collected £42.2million from last year’s Poppy Appeal, said: “We are reliant on the generous time volunteers offer, but cannot provide volunteer cover at all locations throughout the appeal.”
- TWO teenagers were arrested on suspicion of causing racially aggravated criminal damage after a cenotaph was daubed with the words ‘Free Palestine’ in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
1,000 COPS CALLED UP
MORE than 1,000 police from across the country are being drafted into London for remembrance commemorations.
They will join about 2,000 Met officers at a pro-Palestine march that will follow Saturday’s two-minute silence.
Intelligence suggests breakaway groups could try to provoke trouble. An extra 778 regional police will be on duty in the capital on Saturday and 288 on Sunday.
Police chiefs expect more than 100,000 to be in the capital for the march.
Gavin Stephens, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, stressed protests outside London since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel have been “largely peaceful.”
Eight arrests were made at 67 protests between November 2 and 5.
But 29 people were arrested over the central London protest last weekend.
Fireworks were thrown at police and crowds chanted anti-Israel slogans.