The Guardian has highlighted that there are around 40 political prisoners in UK jails. They are primarily Just Stop Oil and Palestinian protesters who have mostly committed offences of civil disobedience aboit a a political issues.
Until recently such offences would warrant a few weeks in jail at best and certainly not at Christmas. However this changed in the several periods when Suella Braverman was Home Secretary. In various ways she changed and amended laws with the aim of making an effective protest illegal. Labour does not agree with making all protest illegal but it still criminalises civil disobedience. It might be suggested that this doesnt fit well with the history of a Party that owes a great deal of its existence to Chartists and Suffragettes breaking the law to win the vote.
Keeping protesters in jail at Christmas is however not a new thing for the British State as the 23rd December 1843 issue of the Chartist paper the Northern Star underlined. The lead article written by Chartist leader Feargus O’Connor appealed for funds to make sure that the families of those Chartists in jail could have a decent Christmas. He does not reference why they were in jail but very largely due to the 1842 General Strike which was part of the long running Chartist agitation for political rights and the vote
Beloved Friends,—I make no doubt that I shall have a good dinner on Christmas Day but the best sauce that could be served with it would be the assurance that the families of my brother Chartists who are suffering Imprisonment for their principles , were also sure of a good dinner. I have appealed to you frequently on behalf of the principles, and how can I at this season of-the year refrain from begging of you on behalf of those who are suffering from the advocacy of their principles.
Feargus O’Connor, Northern Star 23rd December 1843
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