The Erosion of Dissent: A Cautionary Tale from Hungary
Lydia Gall's expose on the UK's increasingly repressive protest laws echoes a disturbing trend in Viktor Orbán's Hungary. As a journalist who witnessed firsthand the steady erosion of democracy in Budapest, she warns that the UK is heading down a perilous path.
The UK's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and Public Order Act 2023 have granted police sweeping powers to restrict demonstrations, criminalise peaceful tactics, and arrest individuals on vague grounds. The results are alarming: hundreds of arrests, fines, and lengthy imprisonments for peaceful protest activities. The chilling effect of these laws is palpable, with protesters and legal observers describing confusion about what is lawful, inconsistent police instructions, and arbitrary arrests.
This pattern is all too familiar in Hungary, where authoritarianism has taken root through the consolidation of government power. Under the guise of preserving "order" and "safety," the government has restricted public gatherings and silenced critical voices. Independent institutions have been undermined or taken over, ensuring that state power extends into nearly every corner of public life.
The Hungarian experience serves as a stark warning to the UK: when legal safeguards erode, and vague legislation hands discretion to the executive or police, the door opens to abuse. The high court's ruling on Suella Braverman's attempt to lower the protest threshold from "serious" to "more than minor" disruption is particularly troubling, as it signals a deep-seated instinct to control dissent across party lines.
The UK's creeping expansion of state power has extended far beyond the streets. The proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation has conflated civil disobedience with extremism, echoing authoritarian tactics to stifle opposition under the guise of security.
Laws outlast governments, and the UK is not immune to this reality. The lesson from Hungary is clear: once governments manipulate the law for political ends, it can be challenging to undo that damage. The UK authorities must take immediate action to repeal or amend the most repressive elements of recent protest laws, commit to transparency and accountability, and recognise that dissent – no matter how disruptive or uncomfortable – is a safeguard of democracy.
Freedom of assembly is not a gift governments grant their citizens; it is a right that protects citizens from their governments. Britain should take heed of this warning and ensure that its democratic institutions remain strong and resilient in the face of repressive measures. The future of dissent and the rule of law depend on it.
Lydia Gall's expose on the UK's increasingly repressive protest laws echoes a disturbing trend in Viktor Orbán's Hungary. As a journalist who witnessed firsthand the steady erosion of democracy in Budapest, she warns that the UK is heading down a perilous path.
The UK's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and Public Order Act 2023 have granted police sweeping powers to restrict demonstrations, criminalise peaceful tactics, and arrest individuals on vague grounds. The results are alarming: hundreds of arrests, fines, and lengthy imprisonments for peaceful protest activities. The chilling effect of these laws is palpable, with protesters and legal observers describing confusion about what is lawful, inconsistent police instructions, and arbitrary arrests.
This pattern is all too familiar in Hungary, where authoritarianism has taken root through the consolidation of government power. Under the guise of preserving "order" and "safety," the government has restricted public gatherings and silenced critical voices. Independent institutions have been undermined or taken over, ensuring that state power extends into nearly every corner of public life.
The Hungarian experience serves as a stark warning to the UK: when legal safeguards erode, and vague legislation hands discretion to the executive or police, the door opens to abuse. The high court's ruling on Suella Braverman's attempt to lower the protest threshold from "serious" to "more than minor" disruption is particularly troubling, as it signals a deep-seated instinct to control dissent across party lines.
The UK's creeping expansion of state power has extended far beyond the streets. The proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation has conflated civil disobedience with extremism, echoing authoritarian tactics to stifle opposition under the guise of security.
Laws outlast governments, and the UK is not immune to this reality. The lesson from Hungary is clear: once governments manipulate the law for political ends, it can be challenging to undo that damage. The UK authorities must take immediate action to repeal or amend the most repressive elements of recent protest laws, commit to transparency and accountability, and recognise that dissent – no matter how disruptive or uncomfortable – is a safeguard of democracy.
Freedom of assembly is not a gift governments grant their citizens; it is a right that protects citizens from their governments. Britain should take heed of this warning and ensure that its democratic institutions remain strong and resilient in the face of repressive measures. The future of dissent and the rule of law depend on it.
just saw that Hungary's authoritarianism has been creeping into other EU countries too 
like Poland and Czech Republic... it's getting serious 
we need to stay vigilant about our own protest laws in UK 
can't let them turn into a Hong Kong situation 
newsflash: peaceful protest is part of democracy, not something to be outlawed 
and if the courts are allowing vague legislation that can lead to arbitrary arrests, it's a slippery slope 
. I mean, I get that governments need to maintain order, but it seems like they're using these new laws as an excuse to crack down on anyone who disagrees with them 
. And what really scares me is that we're seeing a trend of authoritarianism creeping in – it's happened in Hungary and now it could happen here 
. We need to make sure our government doesn't get too powerful and starts silencing dissenting voices 
. I just hope they listen to this warning from Lydia Gall and take action to repeal those repressive laws ASAP! 
? The fact that they can arrest people on vague grounds is just ridiculous 
. And don't even get me started on the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation... like, what even is that? 
The whole thing reeks of authoritarianism and a blatant disregard for free speech 
... i mean, what's next? them saying protests are just a right for rich people now? 
we should be worried about this trend because its already happening in other places. like, what if they try to do the same thing here? i know it sounds paranoid but ppl who've seen what happens when gov tries to take away rights... 
. And what's with this whole "state power" thing? It's like they're trying to create a surveillance state where everyone's being watched and policed 
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. We need to make sure that our democratic institutions are strong enough to withstand this kind of pressure.
. We can't let the government silence us or stifle dissent 
. It's time for some real change, mate!
I'm getting a serious chill down my spine thinking about what's happening in Hungary and now it seems like the UK is heading down a similar path 
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. I mean, hundreds of arrests and fines for peaceful protests is just crazy! 
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It seems like these laws are just piling on more restrictions without thinking through the consequences... or maybe that's the point? 
. Either way, I think we need to have some serious conversations about this stuff ASAP! 
. I mean, the laws in Hungary are a stark warning – once you give governments too much power, it's hard to get it back 
I mean, we had to deal with trolls and fake news, but at least we had the right to say what we thought. Now, in Hungary, they're even arresting people for wearing yellow shirts... like, what's next?! 
And in the UK, it's not just protesters who are being targeted, but also journalists and activists. It's a slippery slope, bro... 
we need to take a stand against these laws ASAP 
"When you try to control protests, but end up with a whole lot of arrests" 
, like, who's supposed to keep us safe? the government or us citizens? 
just read this article about Hungary's erosion of democracy and it's super worrying - UK protest laws are getting creepy too 
The UK is taking a huge risk by watering down its laws like this - what's next? 
It feels like they're trying to silence the people who are speaking out against injustice. We need to be vigilant here and make sure our voices aren't being stifled 
. It's like they're more interested in enforcing 'order' than actually serving the people