Protect our right to protest

It feels like the right to protest is under attack from ALL sides.

The last government trampled all over our right to protest peacefully. They brought in laws to limit protests deemed ‘a nuisance’ or ‘noisy’ back in 2022.

Instead of reversing the damage, Labour are now doubling down on eroding our right to protest.

The Home Secretary plans to give the police new powers to limit protests based on the “cumulative disruption" of repeat demonstrations.

That means if a protest has annoyed the government or the police too many times, they can shut it down.

So it’s now: you can make your point — but only once or twice.

This was not in their election manifesto. In fact, when Labour were in opposition, Shabana Mahmood MP, who is now Home Secretary, voted against the Police and Crime Bill, warning it contained “draconian measures to restrict free expression and the right to protest.”

The right to protest is fundamental to democracy.

Protests throughout history have led to real change, securing rights for women, workers, and much more.

But today, that right is under threat. The global watchdog CIVICUS downgraded the UK’s civic space rating to “obstructed”, placing us alongside countries where protest is routinely suppressed.

We fought alongside a broad coalition of organisations to oppose anti-protest legislation back in 2022, but it was pushed through despite fierce opposition.

Now we need this government to do the right thing and restore our right to protest.

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