Executive axes Lord Walney’s political violence adviser position

Lord Walney has known as for extra motion to offer protection to the general public from “the threat of maximum protestors”, after his position as the federal government’s unbiased adviser on political violence was once scrapped.

Beneath the former Conservative govt, the crossbench peer advisable additional powers for police to take on demonstrations out of doors Parliament and for protests teams reminiscent of Palestine Motion and Simply Prevent Oil to be banned.

The House Place of job stated Lord Walney’s paintings would “proceed to tell our way”.

His earlier duties will now be a part of the commissioner for countering extremism’s remit.

Lord Walney – the previous Labour MP John Woodcock – was once given the process underneath Conservative Top Minister Boris Johnson in 2020.

In a publish on X confirming he was once leaving the position, Lord Walney wrote: “At a time of accelerating threats and intimidation, we should do extra to offer protection to our democracy and its MPs from organised coercion, and the general public from the threat of maximum protestors.

“I can proceed to give a contribution to this essential debate and hope ministers will display within the coming months that they perceive the intensity of the general public’s contempt for activists who unlawfully disrupt their lives and reason felony injury to get their means.

“Specifically, the blended toll of the weekly Gaza marches displays that the steadiness isn’t these days set proper.”

He added that the impending Crime and Policing Invoice was once a possibility to “give police forces better skill to steadiness the best to protest with the cumulative hurt that weekly demonstrations may cause to communities and the large drain on police sources at a time they’re already overstretched”.

The federal government is recruiting for a brand new commissioner for countering extremism.

The position is these days held by way of Robin Simcox, who’s because of end his three-year time period in July.

Final yr he warned London had turn out to be a “no-go zone for Jews” all over weekend pro-Palestinian marches.

The feedback have been condemned by way of protest teams, who insisted they have been unfounded and identified contributors of the Jewish group additionally attended pro-Gaza rallies.

A House Place of job spokesperson stated: “We wish to thank Lord Walney for his devoted paintings as unbiased marketing consultant and his essential contribution to the United Kingdom govt’s working out of political violence and disruption.

“His paintings will proceed to tell our way as we transfer ahead to evaluate the complicated demanding situations going through our nation.”

Lord Walney, a long-time critic of Jeremy Corbyn, left the Labour Birthday celebration underneath his management, announcing the birthday celebration have been “taken over by way of the onerous left” and “tolerated” antisemitism.

From 2010 to 2019 he served as MP for Barrow and Furness, and he joined the Area of Lords in 2020.