The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental human right, but it has been seriously undermined in the UK in recent years. The latest example of this is the arrest of the Chief Steward, Chris Nineham, and others at the recent Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration on 18th January and the subsequent bringing of charges against Ben Jamal, the Director of the PSC, based on claims which video evidence seems to clearly contradict. 

The conditions which were imposed by the Metropolitan Police on the protest, preventing assembly at the BBC despite a track record of peaceful protests for over a year, are also concerning: they seem to rely on legal powers (a sweeping definition of ‘serious disruption’) that the High Court have previously ruled to be unlawful, but have been left in effect while awaiting an appeal.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and many others have made clear that recent legislation and other changes to the treatment of protesters by police and in the courts are disproportionate and pose a fundamental threat to the right to protest.

We add our voice to those calling for the charges against Chris Nineham, Ben Jamal and others to be dropped. 

We also believe these events, along with the treatment of peaceful climate protesters, further strengthen the case for an urgent overhaul of the law on protest. These include the raft of anti-protest legislation which was brought in by the Conservative government without any clear justification; the removal of the legal defence for protesters in court of ‘necessity’ or acting to prevent a greater harm; and the existence of a parallel system of private law in the sweeping use of civil injunctions. A Labour government, especially one led by a former human rights lawyer, should not be upholding anti-protest laws which are disproportionate, unjust, and breach human rights.

Find out more about attacks on the right to protest

Dear Prime Minister

This year, it will be a decade since the Paris Agreement was signed. Yet fossil fuel emissions continue to rise, and the window to avert the worst impacts of climate breakdown is rapidly closing. At this critical moment, the re-election of Donald Trump as president of the United States seriously increases the grave danger we are in. 

Trump’s presidency will have a direct effect by further increasing US emissions. If he pulls the US out from the Paris climate agreement, and potentially even from the entire UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the indirect effects may be even more disastrous. Trump is a figure who emboldens climate deniers, authoritarians and the far right. If the wealthy, polluting US walks away from global climate negotiations, it greatly heightens the risk of other countries doing the same.

We ask you to use your position as UK Prime Minister, firstly to urge Trump not to pull out of the Paris agreement, and secondly, to do everything in your power to maintain and repair the principles of collective global action on climate change, and ‘common but differentiated responsibility’.

This means the UK acting as an exemplar for a comprehensive, swift, and equitable fossil fuel phase-out: an end to new North Sea oil and gas drilling with a fully funded plan for workers and communities, alongside a comprehensive climate plan for the rest of the economy.

It also means the UK doing its fair share on climate finance. The pledge of $300 billion agreed at COP29 was entirely inadequate, targeting just a small fraction of the trillions needed, and it is highly likely to be delivered largely.as private finance and loans pushing countries deeper into debt. The UK must stand alongside developing countries challenging this, by increasing our direct contributions, implementing and demanding the highest standards of transparency, and unlocking domestic and international finance using the well-known ‘polluter pays’ principle. 

Trump's first orders as President:

• the US to leave the Paris climate agreement and cease funding the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• declaring an 'energy emergency', promising to fast-track fossil fuel permits and revoking restrictions on drilling in Alaska.
• ending Biden's pause on liquid gas exports
• a ban on wind energy permits
• rolling back measures to reduce vehicle emissions
• a 90 day pause on US foreign aid

Other disturbing measures included exiting the World Health Organization, and declaring a 'border emergency' paving the way to send US troops to the southern border.

News that Donald Trump's administration will withdraw from the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change is a heavy blow to our chances of averting climate catastrophe, but it comes as no surprise. It follows his withdrawal from the Agreement during his first term, as well as his threats to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement and the UN's Framework Agreement on Climate Change which is responsible for organising international climate negotiations. Nor do the threats to attack clean energy, which he called a "Green Energy Scam". His inauguration speech included his oft used threat to "Drill, Baby Drill" made during his election campaign.