https://goodlawproject.org/petition/remove-the-governments-protest-adviser/

STOP BOMBING SCHOOLS 

To: Home Secretary Yvette Cooper It is vital for our democracy that politicians and their advisers act with transparency, impartiality and accountability. Remove Lord Walney and investigate him for potential conflicts of interest whilst advising the government on protest

Freedom of expression and the right to protest drastically eroded under the last government. Police now have the power to arrest people just for marching down the road or for carrying placards, and the courts can throw them in jail simply for speaking about their reason for protesting. 

Lord Walney was appointed by Boris Johnson to advise the government on political violence and disruption and still holds his post today,making recommendations on protest law. His 2024 report, Protecting Democracy from Coercion, urged the government to focus their attention on what he calls the ‘extreme left’  – predominantly those campaigning on the climate crisis and protesting for Palestine.   

But whilst making these recommendations, Walney was being paid by lobbying organisations whose clients include oil and gas companies and those selling weapons to Israel. 

His conflicts of interest have been raised multiple times by journalists, but so far no formal complaint has been made to parliament. Until now. 

Good Law Project and Compassion in Politics are writing to the Home Office with a dossier of evidence which we believe shows Walney should not be in post as the government’s protest adviser. We’re also writing to the House of Lords Commissioner asking for Walney to be investigated for breaching the House of Lords’ Code of Conduct.

Add your name to tell the government you demand better from our politicians.