On Tuesday 23 July, Bond, the UK network for civil society organisations working in international development, released its first annual UK civic space review.
Civic space UK: under threat and under pressure
Under mounting pressure, civic space in the UK has faced unprecedented challenges over the past year. As Bond wrote:
Last year, UK civic space reached its nadir. In March 2023, the international monitoring group, CIVICUS, downgraded civic space in the UK from ‘narrowed’ to ‘obstructed’.
Since then, Bond has continued to track and analyse the political and operating environment for civil society in the UK. Our new review, which covers the 18 months preceding the UK General Election, shows how this downward trend has continued.
Civic space refers to the context in which civil society exists. To flourish, the people and groups who make up civil society need enabling laws and government policies which uphold our rights and freedoms, a fair and independent regulator who enables charitable organisations to act as agents of social change, and an open and inclusive political sphere that supports public debate and scrutiny.
Our review shows we are further away from this vision than ever before. The excessively long sentences handed out to five protesters only last week, show how restrictions are continuing to have an impact despite the recent change in government.
Bond’s latest review details key trends that threaten civil society’s core functions, including harsher anti-protest laws, tone-policing of charity campaigns, restrictions on public scrutiny and an emerging trend on the expansion of the definition of extremism.
Protest rights
Trend 1: There has been a move towards ever stricter anti-protest laws to clamp down on disruption.
Over the last year, the government has increasingly sought to clamp down on activities it deems to be too disruptive. In May 2024, three climate protestors were found guilty by a jury after taking part in a slow march and blocking traffic.
Trend 2: Protesters are being prevented from mentioning motives in court.
Judges have repeatedly prevented protesters from mentioning their motivations, specifically on climate change or fossil fuels, during trials for protest-related offenses. In March 2023, three environmental protesters were imprisoned for contempt of court after ignoring one such ruling.
Charity campaigning
Trend 3: Charity campaigns are increasingly seeing the “tone” of their campaigns being policed.
While charity law regulates the issues charities can campaign on, the tone they use is not regulated. Yet over the past year, politicians have criticised the tone of charity campaigns – for being too emotive or critical – as much as the issues or policies they address.
Trend 4: There is now significant pressure on migrants’ rights charities from government.
Charities and campaigners working on migration issues have faced intense pressure for opposing government policies. For example, former Home Secretary Suella Braverman publicly criticised charities for speaking out against the Safety of Rwanda Bill and other migration policies.
Public scrutiny and criticism
Trend 5: There is now increasing use of Henry VII powers.
Parliamentary scrutiny has diminished due to the increased use of Henry VIII clauses, allowing ministers to change laws without full parliamentary approval. For example, the government used these powers to amend the Public Order Act 2023 after it had already passed to significantly lower the threshold for which protests are caught by the new law, a decision later ruled unlawful by the High Court.
Trend 6: Experts are increasingly being vetted and banned.
Experts have been prevented from speaking at government events if they are seen to be critical of the government or its policies, which has clear implications for freedom of speech.
An emerging trend that Bond is keeping an eye on is: expanding the definition of extremism.
In 2024, the government broadened the definition of extremism, potentially affecting many more groups. This will prevent certain organisations from meeting with government officials and parliamentarians, and from receiving public funds. It’s entirely up to the government to decide which groups it believes meet this decision and there is no appeals process.
A “continuing decline” in civic space UK
Speaking about the review, Rowan Popplewell, policy manager on civic space at Bond, said:
This review highlights the shifting operating environment for civil society and campaigners and draws attention to the evolving challenges they face. By offering an annual analysis, we hope to boost awareness and understanding of trends and help campaigners better navigate restrictions.
The UK’s global standing was damaged last year when our civic space was downgraded by international experts and this review confirms a continuing decline. The excessively long sentences handed out to protesters only last week show how this issue continues to be a concern, despite the change in government.
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.
You can read the full Bond review here.
Featured image via Bond
