I heard the demonstration before I saw it as the loud crash of percussion instruments blasted away, defiantly proclaiming the presence of the protesters. About 500 people gathered outside the Royal Courts of justice in the Strand to protest against the harsh prison sentences passed on Just Stop Oil and XR rebellion activists for peacefully protesting against climate change and the part played by the fossil fuel industry in creating the climate crisis. 16 people have been jailed for a total of 41 years and in all 50 people have been jailed in recent months with sentences of up to 5 years. This assault on direct action is a threat to our democratic right to protest and to dissent.

‘Lord’ Walney, who sentenced the protesters, is an arms and oil lobbyist and a life peer who formerly acted as the Conservative government’s ‘independent adviser’ on political violence and disruption and is currently in position under the Labour government. He called for activist groups to receive the harshest response from government.

What struck me, as I did a tour of the demonstration, was the total absence of the Labour Party (no surprises there) but also there were no representatives of the revolutionary left. The only thing I spotted was an isolated Palestinian flag. This sectarian short sightedness is bizarre, given the need to make common cause against all of the strands of repressive laws that are designed to neuter protest, especially on the left. I’m not sure how aware the protesters were of these connections. Their chief concern was to make the jury system fairer rather than to challenge the bourgeois system as a whole.

The ubiquitous Billy Bragg was announced on the makeshift stage and he sung the classic socialist anthems “Which Side are you On”, “Solidarity Forever” and, of course, Bob Dylan’s “I shall be Released.” At that point I left the demonstration with a friend for the nearest Wetherspoons.