“Arrests of peaceful protesters have surged, often for minor or non-violent acts such as holding signs or standing in public spaces. These developments underscore the harsh reality that the right to protest is being methodically undermined.”
By Kim Johnson
One of the fundamental pillars of a healthy democracy is the right of its citizens to protest – to raise our voices, take to the streets, and demand change. It’s how ordinary people have shaped the world for the better – from the suffragettes and the civil rights movement to striking workers and climate activists. But in recent years, that fundamental right has come under sustained attacks and has been systematically eroded.
The previous Conservative government did everything in its power to restrict the right to protest, introducing laws that criminalised people for standing up for what they believe in. Under their watch, people were arrested simply for holding placards or standing near a demonstration. This was a clear and chilling attempt to silence dissent, pushing us further into a dangerous new era of authoritarian policing.
The Tories introduced three sweeping anti-protest laws under a commanding legislative regime – the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, the Public Order Act 2023, and the Serious Disruption Regulations 2023 – that together represent a concerted attack on civil liberties. Nowhere was this more blatant than in the draconian measures used to suppress peaceful protest. For generations, peaceful protest has been a vital force for positive change – from advancing civil rights to driving climate action. Social movements have always depended on the power of peaceful assembly to challenge the status quo – and they always will.
Recent examples show this tightening grip in action. MPs who have attended protests or raised concerns about protest rights have been questioned by police – sending a worrying message that even elected representatives are not immune from intimidation. Arrests of peaceful protesters have surged, often for minor or non-violent acts such as holding signs or standing in public spaces. These developments underscore the harsh reality that the right to protest is being methodically undermined.
I am proud to have stood on a platform of change – a promise to restore civil liberties, not to further curtail them. But despite Labour’s longstanding commitment to defending these rights, we have yet to see concrete legislative action to restore and protect the right to protest.
In opposition, we opposed those laws. So, why now in government are we not committing to reversing these measures. We must once again lead on this issue. We must repeal those authoritarian measures and enshrine the right to protest in law.
Although our recent amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, which sought to enshrine the right to protest in law, was defeated in the Commons, the fight is far from over. As the Bill now moves to the House of Lords, we have an opportunity – and a responsibility – to push back. I will be working alongside civil liberties organisations, legal experts, and grassroots movements to build a broad and determined coalition for change.
Our focus now must be strategic and coordinated. We need to expose how existing police powers are already being used to restrict and condition protests – including the disproportionate policing of recent demonstrations. At the same time, we must challenge the introduction of new powers that threaten to further undermine the right to freedom of assembly and expression, disproportionately impacting marginalised communities and peaceful campaigners. These new provisions intensify the chilling effect already created by recent public order laws and lack any convincing justification.
This isn’t just a matter of legal technicalities. It’s about the kind of country we want to be. Do we want to live in a democracy where people can stand up to power – or one where they’re punished for trying? No government, of any political colour, should have the power to strip away such a fundamental democratic right. If this Labour government truly wants to be on the side of justice, then it must stand with those who fight for it.
Committing to this vital change is how we break with the legacy of anti-protest laws. It is how we shift the balance decisively away from authoritarianism and toward a freer, more democratic society. Protecting democracy means protecting the freedoms that make it possible. And it starts with the right to protest.
We must act now – before more voices are silenced. If we truly believe in progressive change, we must protect those who demand it. The right to protest is a precious cornerstone of our democracy, and it must be fiercely defended – now more than ever.
- Kim Johnson MP is the MP for Liverpool Riverside, you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram and Tik Tok.
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