LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – The United Kingdom is under renewed legal and moral scrutiny as civil society groups, international watchdogs, and the United Nations ramp up pressure over its controversial protest laws, migrant policies, and deepening inequality despite a change in government.
The Labour Party, which swept into power in July 2024 on promises of reform and justice, now finds itself defending the very policies it once vowed to repeal. At the heart of the storm lies a pivotal legal battle over the right to protest, one that experts warn could redefine the country’s democratic landscape.
In May, the High Court ruled that anti-protest measures introduced under the 2023 Public Order Act, were unlawful, citing that they violated the fundamental right to peaceful assembly. Yet, the Labour government, instead of embracing the ruling, chose to uphold the legal challenge lodged by its predecessors. The case is now scheduled for appeal in December, drawing fierce criticism from rights advocates who call it a betrayal of democratic principles.
“This isn’t just a legal matter, it’s about the soul of British democracy,” said a spokesperson from Liberty UK, one of the groups involved in the litigation. “Facial recognition at protests, mass surveillance, arbitrary restrictions, these tactics belong in authoritarian states, not here.”
The government’s stance has also drawn fire from the United Nations. In a rare rebuke, the UN Human Rights Committee urged the UK to “end the use of facial recognition and other mass surveillance technologies by law enforcement agencies at protests.” Environmental activists, who have been repeatedly targeted under these laws, described the measures as “draconian.”
Broken Promises on Asylum and Migration
While Labour formally scrapped the Rwanda deportation scheme in 2024, the underlying architecture of punitive immigration remains intact. The controversial Illegal Migration Act and Nationality and Borders Act, both criticized by the UN for violating refugee rights are still in force.
Meanwhile, Labour’s proposal for a new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill echoes the hardline rhetoric of past governments. With plans for fast-track returns and a crackdown on so-called “safe country” arrivals, critics fear it may erode the right to individualized asylum assessment.
“Ending the Rwanda plan was symbolic,” says Amnesty UK’s refugee policy advisor. “But until these harmful laws are repealed, asylum seekers remain trapped in a hostile environment.”
Poverty, Inequality, and an Unaddressed Cost-of-Living Crisis
The UK continues to wrestle with an unforgiving cost-of-living crisis, and for millions of households, relief is nowhere in sight.
Despite Labour’s pledge to enact the long-ignored socio-economic duty within the Equality Act, the government has yet to remove one of the most damaging policies on the books, the two-child limit on social security benefits. The policy, condemned by child poverty groups, remains a central driver of economic hardship for low-income families.
Fueling further discontent, winter fuel payments for many seniors in England and Wales were quietly cut, reportedly without an impact assessment. Critics say the move endangers vulnerable older citizens, especially as inflation continues to bite.
Racism, Windrush, and the Chagossians’ Fight for Justice
A wave of far-right violence in July and August 2024 shook the nation, with migrants, Muslims, and people of color facing targeted attacks including the firebombing of an asylum-seeker center in Rotherham. Rights groups say politicians and the media have only inflamed tensions by peddling xenophobic narratives.
Labour has made symbolic moves, such as appointing a Windrush commissioner and releasing funds for long-overdue compensation. However, many argue these gestures fall short of genuine justice. Likewise, a political agreement with Mauritius over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands has sparked backlash from the Chagossian diaspora, who say they were excluded from meaningful consultation.
Systemic Failures Continue in Disability and Trans Rights
A UN review this year laid bare the UK’s failure to uphold disability rights, highlighting arbitrary detention under the Mental Health Act and the shocking figure of 20,000 sexual abuse incidents in NHS mental health units over five years.
Meanwhile, the Cass Review of gender identity services has triggered a crisis of trust in trans healthcare. With the NHS imposing a controversial ban on puberty blockers, despite medical consensus, the British Medical Association has stepped in, urging a pause on the review’s implementation amid accusations of misinformation and bias.
Conclusion: A Government at a Crossroads
Nearly a year into Labour’s leadership, hopes for a human rights revival are dimming. From protest crackdowns to migrant hostility and growing economic disparity, critics argue the new government is walking a thin line between continuity and change.
As the December court appeal looms, and international scrutiny intensifies, the UK finds itself facing not just a legal challenge, but a moral reckoning.
