UK’s civic space ‘heavily damaged’, finds Bond’s Civic Space annual review

Today, Wednesday 18th February, Bond, the UK network for NGOs in international development, has released its third and final annual UK civic space review.  

Following a year of change in UK civic space, as the Crime and Policing Bill passes through Parliament and as the UK seeks to extend police power over protests, Bond’s latest review identifies key trends that threaten civil society’s core functions. These include a crackdown on protest rights, increased restrictions for pro-Palestine protesters, and an increase in threats and intimidation facing charities, as the sector sees slow progress on the implementation of the Civil Society Covenant. 

Key trends observed in the UK civic space include:  

Trend 1: The UK government’s position on protest rights has become clearer 

The introduction of the Crime and Policing Bill in February 2025, now currently passing through Parliament, has clarified the UK government’s position on protest rights – and increased restrictions. This is the third piece of primary legislation on public order and protest in four years, and, if passed, the bill will expand police power to restrict the right to protest, give them new powers of arrest and control over the route and time of demonstrations. 

Increased restrictions have garnered international criticism, including from UN Special Rapporteurs, who describe “disproportionate sentencing” towards peaceful protesters – particularly climate protesters – and accuse the government of paying lip service to climate goals while criminalising activists.  

Trend 2: Increased restrictions for pro-Palestine protesters 

Despite criticism from the UN, who described its decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a misuse of terrorism laws, the UK government have increased restrictions on pro-Palestine supporters; with over 2,000 arrests recorded since the ban came into force in July 2025. 

Human Rights Commissioner at the Council of Europe, Michael O’Flaherty, has urged the UK to review protest laws to combat the risk of over-policing. However, the Prime Minister announced in October 2025 that the government would consider even further restrictions – including banning the use of some chants at pro-Palestinian demonstrations. 

Trend 3: The rise in nativist populism threatens migrants, charities and rights 

The growth of nativist populism – a political ideology that is anti-rights and frames immigration as a threat to national identity and economic security – has underpinned a growing hostility in public debate on asylum and immigration.  

This year has seen the rise in popularity of political parties that adopt anti-rights, and specifically anti-migration, stances, as well as far-right actors who exploit moments of crisis to fuel Islamophobic and antisemitic rhetoric.    

Within this increasingly febrile and divisive context, charities working with migrants and refugees face increased threats of violence and intimidation, and Bond is concerned that these threats will harm the UK civic space as organisations feel less safe to engage in advocacy and campaigning across key issues. 

Trend 4: A slow start to the Civil Society Covenant 

July 2025 saw the publication of the Civil Society Covenant, an agreement between civil society and government which aims to rebuild relationships after years of neglect – described by the Prime Minister as “giving civil society a home at the heart of government”.   

When the Covenant was introduced, Bond welcomed the positive first step by the government to reset the relationship with civil society but called for concrete action to follow to protect civic space and strengthen our democracy. 

However, in the months since, little progress has been made on implementation, with delays to the establishment of a joint council central to delivery, and the government seen as turning back on promises made in the Covenant to protect campaigning rights. 

Discussing the review, Bibusa Musukwa, Bond’s Policy and Advocacy Adviser on civic space, said: 

This year’s review highlights the challenging operating environment for civil society and campaigners, in a year that has seen the introduction of a Bill that would impose stricter legislation on protests, and a slow start to the Civil Society Covenant.

Over three years, Bond has tracked and analysed worrying changes to the UK civic space across the legal, political and regulatory environment. It’s clear that UK civic space is shrinking – with campaigners facing increasing barriers to work, and some charities forced to shutter their doors against threats of violence from the far-right.

The UK’s global reputation as a peaceful, tolerant country with vibrant civic space has been heavily damaged. Now, the government must act urgently to halt further democratic backsliding, and counter harmful anti-migrant rhetorics that fuel violence and hate. Protecting the right to peaceful protest, and implementing the terms of the Civil Society Covenant to support meaningful public scrutiny are crucial steps to defend civil society and restore our international reputation.

ENDS. 

Notes for editors

1. Bond’s third and final annual UK Civic Space Report is available to read online here.
2. The review was written before judgements were made in the trials of six Palestine Action activists (the ‘Filton Six’) and on the proscription of Palestine Action.
3. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 350 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
4. For further information or interviews, please get in touch with Emily Loynes at [email protected] or 07909947850