Westminster Council Replaces Banksy with "Less Divisive" Mural of a Grey Square

Following the appearance of a provocative new Banksy artwork outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Westminster Council has taken decisive action by covering it with a specially commissioned mural of a large, grey square.

The original piece, which depicted a judge wielding a gavel over a figure on the ground, was deemed “overly interpretive” by the council’s emergency Civic Aesthetics Committee, which convened in the early hours of Friday morning.

Rather than simply erecting a hoarding, the committee voted to commission an immediate “artistic response.” The result, unveiled just hours later, is a meticulously painted 10x8 foot grey rectangle in a shade officially designated as “Committee Room Grey.”

A council spokesperson praised the new work. “While we appreciate all forms of public expression, the previous artwork was frankly a bit much,” they stated, sipping a lukewarm tea. “This grey square, however, is a calming, neutral statement. It doesn’t provoke, it doesn’t challenge. It simply… is. It perfectly reflects the impartiality of the planning department.”

The move has been hailed as a triumph of bureaucratic efficiency. The council has already received three offers from private collectors for the grey square, with one bidder praising its “unflinching portrayal of administrative neutrality.”

Art critic has ironically lauded the piece as “Banksy’s most powerful work yet.” He wrote, “By provoking the council into creating this void of expression, Banksy has forced us to confront the crushing, monolithic nature of the establishment. The grey square is a masterpiece of institutional self-portraiture.”

Meanwhile, a security guard at the court was less philosophical. “They painted over the funny one with a big grey block,” he said. “Right then. Time for a cuppa.”