In the last few days, extracts have been released to the media from the report of the Government’s so-called ‘independent adviser on domestic violence and disruption’, Lord Walney, calling for campaign groups such as Palestine Action and Just Stop Oil to be banned, despite the groups themselves being denied access to the report.

Today, 15 May, it has emerged that far from being ‘independent’, Lord Walney serves vested corporate interests in the arms and fossil fuel industries, whose profits are being threatened by precisely the groups he’s proposing to ban.

Amongst other roles Lord Walney:

• Chairs the Purpose Defence Coalition, whose members include Leonardo, one of the world’s largest arms manufacturers, with extensive links to the Israeli government
• Is a paid adviser to Rud Pederson, lobbyists, whose clients include the oil and gas giant, Glencore
• Is a paid adviser to the Purpose Business Coalition, whose members include BP.

Lord Walney also visited Israel in January of this year, funded by Elnet, an NGO promoting cooperation between Europe and Israel.

See press release in full.