"Extreme protest groups" should be subject to strict new laws according to the government’s independent advisor on political violence Lord Walney. This would include organisations like Just Stop Oil and Palestine Action whose members are willing to break the law to get their point across.

They might have restrictions placed on their ability to fundraise or assemble, according to extracts of a new report by Walney leaked to the press.

But is this an appropriate way to deal with protests that may be disruptive, but which are essentially non violent?

Adrian Goldberg talks to Gail Bradbrook is one of the founders of Exrtinction rebellion, who been found guilty of criminal damage as a result of her protests against HS2 and Barclays; and Francesca Cociani, a senior associate at  Hodge Jones & Allan, who regularly represents protestors in court.

Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.

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The former Soviet state of Georgia has been rocked by protests in the capital Tbilisi over a proposed law which critics say is a cover for increasing Russia’s hold on the country.

Russia already occupies around 20% of Georgian territory following its invasion in 2008, and the ruling Georgian Dream party is now trying to force media outlets and NGOs who receive funding from abroad to register as “an organisation serving the interests of a foreign power”.

UK foreign secretary David Cameron says the legislation is “Kremlin inspired” – a view backed by an estimated 200,000 demonstrators who have faced riot police using tear gas, stun grenades and water canon.

Georgia only secured its independence in 1991 and opinion polls suggest around 80% of the population is in favour of joining the European Union but the EU says if this law is passed there’ be no hope of that.

Alex Scrivener is the executive director of the Democratic Security Institute, a pro-democracy thinktank based in Tbilisi.

Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White.

Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times.

Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.

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Natalie Elphicke is the one time Tory MP who crossed the floor of the House of Commons recently to join the backbenches on Keir Starmer’s side, prompting more than a few raised eyebrows among her new colleagues.

The Dover MP was seen as being on the right of the party – she has backed strionger rules on migtation, and opposed a climate change test for new oil and gas licenses.

So what message does it send that she’s now been embraced by a party that still clings to the notion that it’s left wing.

There’s another curious aspect to the story too…the Sunday Times has alleged that in July 2020 Elphicke tried to persuade former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland to change the judge who was due to try her husband Charlie Elphicke’s case for sexual assault.

Buckland is said to have immediately rejected the idea and Natalie Elphicke denies the claim. But isn’t it convenient for the Conservatives that this story didn’t appear for for four years but then popped out into the open blinking in the harsh glare of publicity the moment she switched to Labour?

Adrian Goldberg talks to Byline Times Political Editor Adam Bienkov and Mic Wright.

Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg.

Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times.

Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.

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Does the US decision to pause a bomb shipment to Israel because of concerns over its incursion into Rafah mark a U-turn in Washington's stance on the war in Gaza?

A US spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Israel hasn’t “fully addressed” its concerns over the needs of around 1 million civilians sheltering in Gaza’s southernmost city.

 Many people have fled there because of Israel’s assault on other parts of the country, which it launched in retaliation for the October 7 attacks, in which 1200 people died. Around 35,000 Palestinians are thought to have lost their lives in the conflict.

 David Wearing is a lecturer in International Relations at the University of Sussex and an expert on UK foreign relations in the Middle East.

Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White.

Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times.

Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.

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In this second podcast about England's local election results Adrian Goldberg reflects on success for Labour in the mayoral elections. They held London despite some forecasts to the contrary and secured the West Midlands, where Richard Parker won the vote after a partial recount to see off the incumbent Andy Street.

Adrian is joined by Byline Times founder and executive editor Peter Jukes and Cllr Steve Evans – Deputy Leader of Wolverhampton City Council where Labour strengthened its grip on the local authority, winning 17 of 20 seats up for grabs.

Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg.

Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times.

Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.

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Adrian Goldberg assesses England's local election results with Byline Times political editor Adam Bienkov and former Labour councillor Shaista Aziz.

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We mark Press Freedom Day by celebrating the Anti-Slapp campaign, which is aimed at protecting journalists who want to expose wrongdoing.

A SLAPP is a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation – a legal case brought, usually by the rich and powerful to intimidate those who want to question their behaviour into silence.

Famous examples include the fomerChelsea owner and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich who took action against Catherine Belton and her publisher Harper Collins over claims made in Belton’s book ‘Putin’s People’: and attempts by lawyers working for the then Chancellor Nadim Zahawi to gag tax lawyer and journalist Dan Neidle who’d been investigating his.finances.

Adrian Goldberg hears from Susan Coughtrie, co chair of the Anti Slapp coalition and  Lexie Kirkconnell-Kawana, CEO of the press regulator Impress.

Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg.

Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times.

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Andrew Kersley and Hardeep Matharu explore how ow the far right exploits victims of child sexual exploitation as featured in the latest print edition of Byline Times.

Hosted by Adrian Goldberg.

Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg.

Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times.

Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.

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After five more people died in the Channel attempting to cross to the UK – one of them a seven year old girl – Adrian Goldberg asks if the government’s Rwanda scheme is a humane response, and whether it will be effective.

Rishi Sunak made it an article of faith to push the Rwanda Bill through parliament despite previous objections by the European Court of Human Rights .

Migrants who arrive in the UK by boat will henceforth risk being sent to the East African state to have their asylum claims processed and even if they are successful, they won’t be allowed to return to the UK. 52,000 people are currently eligible for deportation under the plan, but more legal challenges can be expected.

Leila Zadeh is Executive Director of Rainbow Migration and Amreen Quereshi is a Research Fellow at the IPPR.

Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White.

Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times.

Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.

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Two MP's, Angela Rayner and Mark Menzies are embroiled in what the tabloids like to call a 'scandal'. Both deny any wrong doing.

But what unites these stories - and what divides them?

Adrian Goldberg talks to Byline Times political editor Adam Bienkov and John McTernan, Tony Blair’s director of political operations at Downing Street between 2005 and 2007.

Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White.

Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times.

Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.

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Adrian Goldberg investigates Imprisonment for Public Protection jail sentences and the licensing conditions that are attached to them.

He's joined by Ishuba Salmon, who was spent 17 years in jail on IPP sentences; Emma McClure from SL5 legal who represented Matthew Price; and Donna Mooney from campaign group UngrIPP.

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