Nottingham East Labour MP talks about the right to protest
Nottingham, the Rebel City, is known for its spirit of protest. From the Luddites, a group of local textile-workers who protested against wage reductions in the 19th century, to the anti-racist protests during this summer, our local communities have always been vocal in standing up to injustice. But protest is not just about raising voices; it’s also about physically taking up space to demand visibility and acknowledgment. Yet our rights to do so were seriously eroded under the Conservatives. So much so that last year, the UK was downgraded in freedom rankings as a result of the previous governments’ ‘increasingly authoritarian’ drive. Now, the new Labour government has the opportunity to reverse this.
In 2022, the Tories passed the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, which gave the police unlimited power to restrict protests and marches. In 2023, the introduction of the Public Order Act and Serious Disruption Regulations meant that the police could impose restrictions on almost any demonstration it deemed ‘seriously disruptive’.
This isn’t right. Protest is meant to be disruptive. It’s about asserting the right to be seen and refusing to be sidelined. Protest is often the last port of call, after all other avenues of resistance have been exhausted.
These new laws have had a chilling effect on our democracy. Activists and organisers now face the constant threat of arrest and legal repercussions, even for peaceful demonstrations and especially since people can technically be prosecuted if their protest unintentionally veers outside of an approved route or timing. Non-violent climate protesters have been jailed for up to five years for attending a Zoom call. The vague definitions of ‘serious disruption’ allow authorities to stifle dissent arbitrarily, targeting gatherings that question or criticise government actions. No one should have that kind of unchecked power.
We can’t build an inclusive and progressive society without processes for accountability and justice. Protest is foundational to both.
This culture of fear can stop people from participating in protest and exercising their democratic rights. A recent survey found that 94% of campaigners across the country said there were threats to the freedom to organise, contribute to public debate, influence political decisions or protest. In a democratic society, the ability to advocate for change is vital. It’s how activists of the past won rights we now take for granted – women’s right to vote, the minimum wage, the end of the apartheid in South Africa, and same sex marriage.
When the freedom to protest and express dissent is curtailed, there are fewer checks on those in power, increasing the likelihood of policies that may harm vulnerable groups and even violate human rights.
When the freedom to protest and express dissent is curtailed, there are fewer checks on those in power, increasing the likelihood of policies that may harm vulnerable groups and even violate human rights. From speaking out on unsafe conditions in a workplace to demanding climate action from relevant public bodies and private companies, the right to take up space and protest improves accountability and empowers individuals to drive meaningful change. What kind of city would Nottingham be without its radical history of protest?
If people can’t voice their grievances or oppose decisions that harm them, the very fabric of public trust begins to unravel. Communities are weakened, resulting in lower civic-engagement. The silencing of dissent doesn’t just stifle individual voices – it drives a wedge between citizens and their government, creating a disconnect that provides fertile ground for authoritarianism to take root. A country with a weakened democracy is also more susceptible to harmful external influences such as foreign interference in elections and the spread of disinformation. We can’t build an inclusive and progressive society without processes for accountability and justice. Protest is foundational to both.
The new government now has the responsibility to reverse these authoritarian measures introduced by the Conservatives and strengthen our democracy. Peaceful mass demonstrations, which form a big part of our local and national history, should always be permitted. Labour promised change when it was elected to form a government, and restoring our hard-earned individual freedoms must surely be a part of that agenda.
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