(London) –United Kingdom authorities are seriously undermining democratic rights, especially the right to peaceful protest, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2025. The Labour government, which took office in July 2024, has failed to roll back draconian anti-protest measures introduced by the previous administration, while continuing to appeal a court ruling that curbs the measures.
For the 546-page world report, in its 35th edition, Human Rights Watch reviewed human rights practices in more than 100 countries. In much of the world, Executive Director Tirana Hassan writes in her introductory essay, governments cracked down and wrongfully arrested and imprisoned political opponents, activists, and journalists. Armed groups and government forces unlawfully killed civilians, drove many from their homes, and blocked access to humanitarian aid. In many of the more than 70 national elections in 2024, authoritarian leaders gained ground with their discriminatory rhetoric and policies.
“Many of us had hoped that an incoming Labour government would have repealed the undemocratic anti-protest legislation introduced under the previous administration, especially given Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s background as a human rights lawyer.” said Yasmine Ahmed, UK director at Human Rights Watch. “That they have chosen not to, and are instead defending these measures in court, beggars belief. Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of a healthy and functioning democracy.”
- In May, in what was described as “a huge victory for democracy”, the High Court ruled that some of the anti-protest measures introduced by the previous administration were unlawful. Campaigners had hoped the incoming government would respect the ruling and that it would herald rethinking the policies and policing of protests. Unfortunately, the new Labour government appealed the court’s decision in December.
- The new government is also yet to amend or repeal the Public Order Act 2023, described as “deeply troubling legislation” by the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk; or the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. These laws dramatically increased police authority, while undermining the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. Peaceful protesters are still being imprisoned under these laws.
- Other human rights concerns include the failure of successive governments to tackle a cost of living crisis that is exacerbating poverty and inequality; hate speech and xenophobia that was manifested in riots in August, linked in part to politicians and the media fueling divisions; failures to adequately address racial discrimination and its ongoing colonial legacies, especially the Chagossian people; and ongoing challenges to establishing a humane and rights respecting migration system.
“We live in incredibly uncertain times and now, more than ever, we need leaders who are going to stand up for the rule of law and our rights and freedoms” Ahmed said. “How can the UK expect to be taken seriously when criticizing crackdowns in Moscow, Beijing, or Tehran, while spending thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money to clamp down on peaceful protests at home, including on climate protesters.”