Overview

• New laws in the UK have led to hundreds of arrests of environmental activists for peaceful protests, with critics arguing that these laws are eroding civil rights and marking a worrying departure for a liberal democracy.
• The Conservative government defends these laws, arguing they prevent extremist activists from hurting the economy and disrupting daily life.
• Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been criticized for pushing prime ministerial power to the limits, including asking Parliament to overrule the U.K. Supreme Court, which blocked a plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda.
• Legal changes made in 2022 and 2023 have increased police powers to restrict protests and imposed penalties of up to 12 months in prison for protesters who block key infrastructure.
• Many legal and constitutional experts argue that the treatment of protesters is a symptom of an increasingly reckless attitude toward Britain’s democratic structures, fueled by Brexit.