Banning protests near parliament would be 'dangerous', says anti-Semitism czar

Lord Mann said the House of Commons was the right place for demonstrations. Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Banning protests outside parliament would be “dangerous”, the government's anti-Semitic czar has warned, amid a row over what should be done to improve the safety of MPs.

Lord Mann said the House of Commons was the right place for demonstrations as he criticized recommendations by the Prime Minister's official adviser on political violence.

Lord Walney's forthcoming review, which was reviewed following the Israel-Gaza conflict, will call for to the creation of protest exclusion zones — which currently cover schools and abortion clinics — would be extended to parliament, constituencies and council chambers.

But Lord Mann, who was a Labor MP until 2019, now an independent peer, rejected the idea, advocating broader measures. to protect the public.

Writing on X (formerly Twitter), he said: “Lord Walney's report helps open up the debate. This is useful. Some of his conclusions are dangerous, simplistic and fundamentally fail to distinguish between noise and a real threat.

“The idea that noisy demonstrations should be banned near parliament or city hall is dangerous. This is where protests should take place, not outside private homes, religious buildings or community centers.

“Intimidation of MPs at work, online and at home is a growing problem. Two deputies were killed. But the specific police powers associated with deputies miss the point. It’s not just politicians who are at risk.”