The right to speak out, to protest, the very fabric of democratic rights is, once again, under attack in the UK as the government updates its definition of extremism, and is about to introduce a potential ban on parliamentarians joining protests.
Recommendations from the government’s advisor on political violence, John Woodcock also known as Lord Walney, who was a former chair of Labour Friends of Israel, call on leaders of the mainstream political parties to instruct their MPs to employ a zero tolerance approach to groups that use disruptive tactics or fail to stop “hate on marches”.
In the crosshairs, climate activist groups such as Extinction Rebellion, and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, who have organized the enormous peaceful mobilizations for Gaza since October last year.
This is an affront to democracy and an indication of a weak and decaying government’s descent into authoritarianism.
It is totally out of touch with the British people and, actually, very much out of keeping with British values, that they claim to champion.
Chris Williamson, Former British MP
Ahead of Walney’s recommendations and after the by-election in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, that handed pro-Palestine campaigner George Galloway a resounding victory, came a speech by the Prime Minister vilifying the pro-Palestinian protests demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
In recent weeks and months, we’ve seen a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality.
What started as protests on our streets have descended into intimidation, threats, and, planned acts of violence.
Rishi Sunak, UK Prime Minister
Critics say comments like those about peaceful demonstrations are a threat to the long tradition of freedom of protest and expression in the country.
These assertions are totally false. … the claims of an increase in anti semitism, of extremism; there is no evidence for that … this is just pure invention and another indication, frankly, of how weak this government really is, to have a special address to the nation as if there was some sort of state of emergency.
Some people that spoke to me thought that we’d declared war on Russia.
What it was, was George Galloway, the leader of the Workers Party, getting elected as a member of parliament.
I mean, that should be celebrated not attacked in that way. It is just absolutely ridiculous.
Chris Williamson, Former British MP
The new changes are yet to be announced and legislated, but the political temperature is rapidly rising in the UK.
In its 2024 World Report, Human Rights Watch says that the UK government’s practices and policies have severely curtailed domestic human rights protections.
Others say the country is at risk of turning into a police state masquerading as a democracy.
The question now is how deep will those erosions go and will the MPs ensconced in Westminster allow them to continue.
