A proposed law would criminalize demonstrations outside the homes of MPs in the UK, with penalties of up to six months in prison. This measure, part of the Crime and Policing Bill, is intended to address harassment of politicians amid rising public protests against government policies.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis has stated that the level of abuse faced by those involved in British politics is ‘truly shocking’ and a threat to democracy. A parliamentary survey found that 96% of lawmakers had experienced harassment, while the Electoral Commission reported that over half of candidates in the last general election faced threats or intimidation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who took office last year, was targeted by pro-Palestinian activists who left children’s shoes and a banner outside his London home, urging him to back an arms embargo on Israel. His government has faced mounting public anger, with an Ipsos poll showing that nearly 80% of Britons now disapprove of his performance.
Recent demonstrations have gripped the UK, including protests against migration and rallies against what critics call a crackdown on free speech. In September, right-wing groups held a ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally in London, with police estimating attendance between 110,000 and 150,000, while organizers claimed up to three million protesters took part.
Rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have warned that the measure could further criminalize peaceful protest. The group condemned the bill as ‘an alarming assault on the right to peacefully protest.’ Last week, Greenpeace activists placed metal bars around the statues of Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and suffragist Millicent Fawcett in London’s Parliament Square to protest what they called the government’s attempt to portray demonstrators as criminals and terrorists.
Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, stated, ‘When we criminalize protest, we don’t just attack activists — we attack democracy itself.’ The proposed law has sparked significant debate over freedom of expression and the balance between public safety and civil liberties in the UK.