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United Kingdom

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

July 2025

Restrictions on pro-Palestinian group under anti-terror legislation spark protests

On 5 July, the government proscribed the pro-Palestinian direct action group Palestine Action under the 2000 Terrorism Act. The proscription order, approved by Parliament on 3 July, makes membership in or support to the group a criminal offense carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. The government cited national security and recent incidents of criminal damage, including to Royal Air Force planes in June, as justification. On 9 August, police arrested 890 people at a London demonstration against the proscription order, the overwhelming majority in connection to the display of Palestine Action posters and 17 on public order offenses. The UN human rights commissioner, Volker Türk, criticized the proscription decision as disproportionate and warned it could harm freedom of expression and assembly. The High Court is set to carry out a full review of the decision in November. Lawyers for the group's co-founder Huda Ammori argued that the decision stifles legitimate protest. 

Sources:  NPRBBC (1), BBC (2), BBC (3), The Guardian, OHCHRUK Parliament,  Verfassungsblog, UK Government

April 2025

Supreme Court ruling clarifies interpretation of the Equality Act
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On 16 April, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the terminology used in the 2010 Equality Act refers to biological sex. It also invalidated the 2022 Scottish government guidance that rules regarding gender representation on public boards should allow for the inclusion of transgender women with a gender recognition certificate. The case was brought by campaign group For Women Scotland. On 22 May, UN human rights experts warned the judgment risks causing legal uncertainty and undermining transgender rights, saying it could justify exclusionary policies and lead to increased discrimination. Concerns were also raised about interim guidance issued on 25 April by the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), interpreting the ruling as allowing exclusion of individuals from single-sex spaces based on biological sex. The EHRC is updating its Code of Practice to clarify the duties of public bodies, service providers and associations under the Equality Act. A public consultation is open until 30 June.

Sources: Cable News NetworkBritish Broadcasting CompanyThe Supreme CourtThe GuardianUK Equality and Human Rights CommissionOHCHRThe Conversation

March 2025

Welsh government responds to proposals tackling deliberate political deception
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In March, the Welsh government provided its responses to 11 recommendations for disqualifying members of the Welsh Parliament (Senedd) and candidates found guilty of deliberate deception. The proposals were published by the Senedd’s Standards of Conduct Committee in February, and  follow a government commitment to introduce legislation before the 2026 Senedd elections, made in July 2024 and re-affirmed in December. As part of its responses, the government pledged to introduce legislation, including a recall system allowing voters to remove Senedd members who breach the parliamentary Code of Conduct from office between elections, and to strengthen the independence of the Senedd’s standards process. The government called for further consultation on a proposal to create a new electoral offence for deliberately misleading statements by candidates in Senedd elections, and began assessing impacts on the justice system and electoral law. The government’s responses were debated in the Senedd on 2 April.  

Sources: Senedd (1), Senedd (2), Senedd (3), Nation Cymru, Llywodraeth Cymru, British Broadcasting Cooperation, The Conversation 

November 2024

Final asylum-seekers leave Bibby Stockholm

The final group of asylum-seekers moved out of Bibby Stockholm, a barge used to house 500 people in unsafe conditions, on 26 November 2024. Asylum-seekers have been gradually relocated from the barge since July 2024, when the government announced its decision not to renew the contract with Bibby Marine, the shipping operations company that owns Bibby Stockholm. Those whose asylum claims are still pending will be provided accommodation elsewhere in the UK. The barge is set to leave UK waters after the lease expires on 8 January 2025, after a year and a half moored in Dorset. An inquest into the death of Albanian asylum-seeker Leonard Farruku on the barge in December 2023 is scheduled to open in September 2025.

Sources: The Guardian (1), The Guardian (2), European Council on Refugees and Exiles, Home Office, International IDEA

See all event reports for this country

Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2024

Chevron
Representation
15/173
Rights
38/173
Rule of Law
21/173
Participation
28/173

Basic Information

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Population
68 350 000
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Keir Starmer (since 2024)
Head of government party
Labour Party
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
First Past the Post
Women in lower or single chamber
40.5%
Women in upper chamber
30.0%
Last legislative election
2024
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
4.76
Head of state
King Charles III
Selection process for head of state
Hereditary or election by hereditary state rulers
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
11/10/2022
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
44.70%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
No Action
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Signatory
Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 7 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
No Action
Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
No Action
Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

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Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
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/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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