The British Overseas NGOs for Development (Bond) released its latest report on Tuesday, finding that the UK’s civic space remains under pressure after being downgraded in global rankings.
The report examines six key trends in the UK that pose threats to civil society. These include increasingly stringent anti-protest laws, limitations on what protesters can say in court, the policing of charity campaigns, pressure on migrants’ rights charities, expanded use of Henry VIII powers, and the vetting and banning of experts.
For instance, the Public Order Act 2023 is one example cited in the anti-protest discussion. This legislation criminalizes newer protest tactics and grants police extensive powers to stop and search demonstrators. Notably, during the coronation of King Charles III, the law was swiftly utilized to detain hundreds of anti-monarchy protesters. On a more recent note, five environmental activists were sentenced to between four and five years in prison for organizing a motorway blockade, the longest sentence seen since the introduction of the conspiracy to cause public nuisance law.
The report also addresses the broadening definition of extremism, which the former conservative government expanded on March 14, 2024. This revision has led to criticisms that it hinders certain organizations from engaging with government officials and parliamentarians, while also affecting their access to public funds. The new definition allows broader discretion for the government, thereby impacting more groups than before.
Commenting on the findings, Rowan Popplewell, Bond’s civic space policy manager, states: “The new government must act now to halt democratic backsliding here in the UK. Repealing anti-protest laws and supporting public scrutiny and debate are crucial steps to help civil society flourish and restore our international reputation.”
Currently, the UK ranks 58th globally for freedom of civic space, classified as “obstructed.” This downgrading followed a 2022 reclassification from a “narrowed” civic space.