What's the point of political protests?

What's the point of political protests?

From Westminster Insider by POLITICO

June 12, 2026 · 41 min · Season 22 · Episode 5

About this episode

The episode explores the effectiveness and impact of political protests in Westminster, featuring insights from various activists and experts.

Climate change, Palestine, Brexit, the Iraq War. Westminster has seen it all when it comes to protests, and the inhabitants of Parliament are largely desensitised to the angry cries at the gates. This week on Westminster Insider host Sascha O'Sullivan asks: what's the point of marching on Whitehall? Peter Tatchell, career protestor famous for his involvement in the gay rights movement, explains how the LGBT marches in the 1990s and early 2000s helped move the needle. But former Conservative MP and gay rights campaigner Edwina Currie takes Sascha inside the back-room lobbying, which she insists was more effective than any protest. Sascha speaks to Sophie Cowen, who spent years working for both Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain, about what the attention-grabbing stunts of the climate protests achieved. And Dr Maria Stephan, political scientist and co-author of Why Civil Resistance Works, explains why the No Kings marches have been so successful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Sascha O'Sullivan

Guests: Peter Tatchell, Edwina Currie, Sophie Cowen, Dr Maria Stephan

Topics covered

  • political protests
  • climate change
  • LGBT rights
  • lobbying
  • civil resistance
  • activism

Keywords

  • political protests
  • activism
  • LGBT rights
  • climate protests
  • civil resistance
  • lobbying
  • Westminster

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Extinction Rebellion, Insulate Britain

Places: Westminster, Whitehall, Palestine, Brexit, Iraq War

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