Skip to main content
The Morning Star 2026 Conference
Authoritarian Lord Walney pushed out as government adviser
People outside Southwark Crown Court, south London, in support of Anna Holland and Phoebe Plummer, September 27

CAMPAIGNERS rejoiced today as right-wing peer Lord Walney — otherwise known as John Woodcock — was pushed out as the government’s adviser on political violence and disruption.

The ex-Labour MP produced a stream of plans to suppress pro-Palestine and climate change protests under the last government and looked to continue in the role under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Lord Walney, whose proposals were regarded as “too extreme,” was closely associated with pro-Israel and arms and energy lobbying groups. 

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Maysara Adwan, left, mourns as she holds the body of her 11-year-old son, Qais, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza that has been used as a shelter, during his burial at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Friday, July 25, 2025
Arms Trade / 25 July 2025
25 July 2025

Sir Keir faces backlash for continuing to enable the genocide in Gaza

Kneecap performing on the West Holts Stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, June 28, 2025
Britain / 29 June 2025
29 June 2025

BBC accused of silencing acts at Glastonbury for standing in solidarity with Palestine

People take part in a demonstration at Trafalgar Square in London in support of Palestine Action,  June 23, 2025
Britain / 23 June 2025
23 June 2025

Home Secretary Cooper confirms plans to ban the group and claims its peaceful activists ‘meet the legal threshold under the Terrorism Act 2000’

Protesters from Just Stop Oil take part in what it claims will be their last direct action protest outside the Royal Courts Of Justice in central London, April 26, 2025
Climate Emergency / 9 May 2025
9 May 2025