Democratic alarm bells as Starmer cracks down on peaceful protest
Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman has denounced new anti-protest laws being introduced by Labour Home Secretary Shaban Mahmood and urged the Scottish Government to make clear they will not be used in Scotland.
Maggie said:
"The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy and not something that should be traded away opportunistically by a government that is collapsing in front of our eyes.
“Anyone who cares about democracy should take a stand against these repressive and ridiculous changes. Devolved governments must make it clear that they will not be applied and that freedom to protest will be protected.
“With this crackdown and the proscription of Palestine Action, Labour is making clear that it would rather criminalise peaceful protest and dissent than end its complicity in Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.
“With the polls showing a far right Reform government as a possibility, do Labour MPs really want to give them the powers and the tools to silence their critics?
“It is shocking that Labour is prepared to go even further than the Tories in removing our basic democratic rights.
“I urge the Scottish Government to make clear that peaceful protest is safe here and that we will not see these authoritarian restrictions replicated in Scotland.”