The Memo: Ministers to reset relations with UK charities in new ‘covenant’ to protect peaceful protests

Keir Starmer has launched the UK Government’s Civil Society Covenant which pledges to rebalance power and responsibility between UK charities and government. The covenant, announced on 17 July 2025, aims to put people and communities at the heart of decision-making. As part of the initiative, the government has confirmed the launch of a new Joint Civil Society Covenant Council, a Local Partnerships Programme, and a developing VCSE-HM Treasury forum which will provide a space for discussion on economic and financial issues affecting the sector.  

Relationships with the voluntary sector have been frayed in recent times. Rishi Sunak’s Conservative administration, for example, introduced the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Act in April 2022, which created a new definition of ‘disruption.’ It announced the stipulation that “serious disruption to the life of the community” now includes any disruption that is “more than minor.” Numerous groups criticised the change, arguing that the aim of a protest is to draw attention to a specific issue, and that causing some disruption is an effective tactic when doing this.  

This week, more than 100 protesters were arrested for holding signs in support of Palestine Action. In June 2025, the British pro-Palestine group was designated a proscribed terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000 after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton. The Terrorism Act 2000 defines ‘terrorism’ as: 

“The use or threat of action which: involves serious violence against a person; involves serious damage to property; endangers a person’s life; creates a serious risk to the health and safety of the public or section of the public or is designed to seriously interfere with or seriously disrupt an electronic system.” 

Alongside Palestine Action, organisations currently proscribed under the 2000 Act include al-Qaida, Hamas and ISIS. This means that supporters of Palestine Action could even face up to 14 years in prison. However, many of those arrested appeared to be over the age of 60, including a woman in her 80s using a walking stick and an 81-year-old former magistrate. Many of the dispersed protestors were also said to have no links to the proscribed group. As such, during a High Court hearing earlier this month, Mr Justice Chamberlain said that police officers had misused or misunderstood the law when halting recent pro-Palestine demonstrations, and this has created confusion over what constitutes legal peaceful protesting.

The Prime Minister’s new Civil Society Covenant aims to reset the relationship between government and charity organisations. Its goal is to uphold the civil right to advocate, campaign and peacefully protest without fear of arrest or obstruction. The covenant also seeks to promote effective communication between the government and these groups, using their expertise to enhance policymaking and help make decisions. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations is set to provide further analysis to the government on how the principles of the covenant could work in practice if implemented effectively.