Public Order Act - Life Sciences Buildings

Many constituents have contacted me about the Public Order Act in relation to Life Sciences buildings. I thought it would be useful to share my stance below.

On Wednesday 7th January 2026 Liberal Democrat MPs shouted NO in the chamber to the SI related to this issue and there will be a deferred division on Wednesday 14th January 2026 where all MPs can all vote against it.

The UK Life Sciences sector is something we should cherish. It is vital to our national wellbeing, from lifesaving research to pandemic preparedness, and it must be protected.

But protecting this essential industry should never come at the expense of our fundamental democratic freedoms.

Time and again, the Conservatives undermined the right to peaceful protest with sweeping, unnecessary powers that went far beyond what was needed to maintain public safety.

The Public Order Act was one of the most troubling examples, criminalising peaceful dissent and expanding policing powers in ways we consistently opposed.

It is deeply concerning to see Labour now choosing to follow the same path rather than reversing these damaging restrictions.

Rebranding ordinary research and manufacturing sites as “key national infrastructure” risks turning legitimate protest into a criminal offence. Peaceful campaigners including those raising ethical concerns about animal testing or pharmaceutical oversight should not be treated as threats to national security.

The police already had strong powers to deal with dangerous or obstructive behaviour long before the Conservatives imposed new laws.

During the Delegated Legislation debate about this issue our Home Office spokesperson Max Wilkinson MP said:

“The UK life sciences sector is something that this country should cherish. It is vital to our national wellbeing, from lifesaving research to pandemic preparedness, and it must be protected. But misguided and misdirected efforts to protect this essential industry risk further undermining many of our fundamental democratic freedoms. 

“Time and again, the Conservative Government undermined the right to peaceful protest by passing sweeping and unnecessary powers that went far beyond what was needed to maintain public safety. The Public Order Act was one of the most troubling examples of criminalising peaceful dissent and expanding policing powers in ways that we Liberal Democrats consistently opposed. It is deeply worrying to see Labour choosing to follow the same authoritarian path, rather than to revise those damaging restrictions. Rebranding research and manufacturing sites as key national infrastructure risks turning legitimate protest into a criminal offence. Peaceful campaigners, including those raising ethical concerns, should not be treated as threats to national security.

“The police already had strong powers to deal with dangerous or obstructive behaviour long before the Conservative Government imposed new laws; these powers are now even stronger. Further restrictions on the democratic right to protest are deeply worrying and illiberal, and it is disappointing to see the new Government pursuing them.”

You can read the whole debate here.