The City of London has granted itself the power to remove the Freedom of the City from individuals, establishing a new process for revoking this historic status.
A new Act of Common Council, approved by the Court of Common Council on Thursday, September 10, 2026, confers the power of removal directly upon the Court. This decision follows the previous resolution in May 2026 to commence proceedings for the removal of the Freedom from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and comes after the existing process was deemed obsolete and defective and defunct.
The new legislation establishes a clear, multi-step process for removal. Allegations will first be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee. Before this, the Town Clerk will notify the individual concerned, outlining the allegations and providing 14 days for written representations. The Committee will then consider the matter, including any submissions, at its earliest convenience. If the Committee decides to proceed, the individual will have a final opportunity to make written representations, which will then be presented to the Court of Common Council for a decision.
While the exact timeline is subject to the specifics of each case, the meeting on September 10, 2026, indicated an intention to proceed with urgency, aiming for a decision by December. This would allow Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor adequate time to respond and ensure all representations are properly considered.
The Court of Common Council will exercise the power of removal having regard to the relevant common law principles and the specific circumstances of a case.
These common law principles dictate that a person can only be deprived of the Freedom for some grave offence.
Such offences could include actions detrimental to the Corporation, acting against the oath and duty of office, or committing acts of an infamous nature that render the individual unfit to hold any public franchise.
Historically, the power to remove the Freedom of the City was exercised in the Mayor's Court, with proceedings initiated by the Common Serjeant of London, facts determined by a jury, and the Recorder of London ruling on legal points. This jurisdiction, though retained by the Mayor's and City of London Court, is no longer considered appropriate due to changes in the roles of these legal officers and the evolution of court systems. The previous process was described as defective and defunct,
making it no longer effective.
There is precedent for the removal of the Freedom of the City, with the last significant instance being Alderman Plumbe in 1771. Although this decision was later overturned on appeal, the High Court at the time emphasized that removal required some grave offence.
The circumstances of the Alderman Plumbe case, which had a distinctly political backdrop,
occurred in the 18th century when the Freedom of the City was crucial for exercising a trade and offered exemptions from tolls and customs, making its removal financially ruinous.
The Bill for an Act of Common Council, which underwent its first, second, and third readings, was passed into law with immediate effect. The full details of the public reports pack can be found in the Public reports pack 10th Sep 2026 13.00 Court of Common Council. Further information regarding the agenda can be accessed via the Agenda frontsheet 10th Sep 2026 13.00 Court of Common Council.