Protest and activism
The nutshell
Activism means working to change something in politics or society. People can take part in many ways, such as signing a petition, joining a campaign, writing to an MP, or going on a protest.
Every fact on this page comes from official guides and non-partisan explainers. Each source tag — like Parl — opens where a fact comes from.
The basics
What activism means
Activism means taking action to change something in politics or society. Voting is one way to have a say, but it happens only every few years. Between elections there are many other ways to take part.
Ways to have a say
UK Parliament lists several ways to take part in its work. A person can sign or start a petition, contact the local MP, share views on a proposed law, or send evidence to a committee looking into an issue.Parl Joining a campaign group, a charity or a trade union is another way to work with others for a shared aim.
Petitions
A petition is a written request that many people sign. On the official UK Government and Parliament site, a petition that reaches 10,000 signatures gets a response from the government.GOV One that reaches 100,000 signatures is considered for a debate in Parliament. Being considered is not the same as a debate being certain.
Protest is a legal right
Protest is one visible form of activism. The right to peaceful protest is protected in UK law through Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.HoC The right is not absolute, so a law can limit protest to keep public order or to protect other people.HoC The topic on the right to protest sets out those rules in full.
- Between elections, people can sign or start a petition, contact a local MP, or share views on a proposed law (UK Parliament)
- A petition on the official UK Government and Parliament site gets a response from the government at 10,000 signatures (GOV.UK)
- The right to peaceful protest is protected in UK law through Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (House of Commons Library)
- Reaching 100,000 signatures means a petition is considered for a debate, not that a debate is guaranteed (GOV.UK)
- The right to protest is not absolute, so a law can limit it to keep public order or protect other people (House of Commons Library)
- Freedom of association is the right to join a group such as a union or a party, and also the right not to be forced to join one (Equality and Human Rights Commission)
The deep end6 min
Activism between elections
Voting decides who holds power, but it happens only every few years. Activism covers the actions people take in between to shape what those in power do. UK Parliament sets out formal routes into its own work — signing or starting a petition, contacting the local MP, sharing views on a proposed law, and sending evidence to a select committee, which is a cross-party group of MPs that looks into one subject.Parl Alongside these sit informal routes, such as joining a campaign group, a charity or a trade union.
How petitions work
The official petitions site is run jointly by the UK Government and Parliament. GOV.UK sets out two thresholds. A petition that reaches 10,000 signatures gets a written response from the government department responsible for the topic.GOV A petition that reaches 100,000 signatures is considered for a debate in Parliament.GOV A cross-party Petitions Committee decides which of those petitions are debated, so a debate is not automatic even at the higher figure.
Freedom of assembly and association
Two legal rights sit behind much activism. Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights protects freedom of assembly and freedom of association. The Equality and Human Rights Commission explains that freedom of association is the right to form and join groups such as a trade union, a political party or a campaign group, and that nobody can be forced to join one.EHRC Article 11 is a qualified right, so a public authority can restrict it only where the action is lawful, necessary and proportionate.EHRC
Protest, and the limits
Protest is the most visible form of activism, and it draws on the same rights. The House of Commons Library records that Articles 10 and 11 together protect peaceful protest, and that the right is not absolute, so a law can limit protest to keep public order or to protect the rights of other people.HoC Where protest law should draw the line is a contested question, and the topic on the right to protest sets out both sides.