(BBC) Lord Walney has called for more action to protect the public from “the menace of extreme protestors,” after his role as the government’s independent adviser on political violence was scrapped.
Under the previous Conservative government, the crossbench peer recommended extra powers for police to tackle demonstrations outside Parliament and for [protest] groups such as Palestine Action and Just Stop Oil to be banned.
The Home Office said Lord Walney’s work would “continue to inform our approach.”
His previous responsibilities will now be part of the commissioner for countering extremism’s remit.
Lord Walney — the former Labour MP John Woodcock — was given the job under Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2020.
