The UK has experienced a sustained decline in various freedom metrics over the past decade, with notable drops in civic, academic, and expression freedoms. Recently, the UK was downgraded from "open" to "obstructed" for civic freedoms, and for the first time, it is no longer ranked among the most liberal societies for free speech.
Key drops in UK freedom rankings include:
Civic Freedom: Downgraded to "obstructed" by the Civicus Monitor due to restrictive laws like the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act.
Free Expression: Dropped to the second tier of countries, joining nations like South Africa and Romania, due to an eight-point decline in Article 19's Global Expression Report.
Academic Freedom: Ranked 64th-66th globally in 2024-2025, marking one of the lowest levels in Western Europe, notes the Committee For Academic Freedom.
Economic Freedom: Dropped from 12th to 13th in the 2025 IEA's Economic Freedom of the World report, confirming a long, slow decline.
These declines are linked to increased restrictions on protests,, the impact of Brexit, and pandemic-era policies, according to various reports.
Taken from AI google
Yesterday - The High Court rules that the ban of Palestine Action under terrorism legislation is unlawful - but it remains in place for now
In a massive blow to the Home Office, three senior judges say that while Palestine Action uses criminality to promote its aims, its activities had not crossed the very high bar to make it a terrorist organisation
The judges however rule the ban must remain until another hearing on 20 February on what happens next
The Metropolitan Police says it will continue to identify offences where support for Palestine Action is being shown, but will focus on gathering evidence rather than making arrests
The government says it will appeal the decision, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood saying she's "disappointed"
Palestine Action's co-founder Huda Ammori calls the ruling a "monumental victory for both our fundamental freedoms in Britain and in the struggle for freedom for the Palestinian people"
Taken from BBC news.
Whilst I think that criminal damage and such criminal acts must always be taken to court, I do think that we, as a country, have begun down the road of restriction of our fundamental freedom, and welcome the courts judgement that states that banning PA was wrong because it did not meet the terrorist bar.
The loss of our freedoms is a real worry, particularly looking to the future and the possibility that a right wing government may well be voted in.
ALPHABETICAL FOOD AND DRINK (Jan 26)
Recalled for a further appointment after a routine mammogram
