Revealed: Lord Walney’s fresh ties to the defence industry

The Home Office is already reviewing the government’s so-called independent adviser on protest, Lord Walney, after Good Law Project raised a slew of potential conflicts of interest. But now an investigation in partnership with Byline Times has revealed new links between the controversial peer and the defence industry.

Boris Johnson appointed Walney as an “independent” adviser on protest in 2020, and earlier this year he produced a report arguing for a clampdown on groups protesting against weapons companies and fossil fuels. 

Walney is vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for AUKUS – the military pact between the US, UK and Australia. The group has received £15,000 from defence contractors BAE Systems (Marine) and Babcock, as well as about £1,500 worth of secretariat services from the defence industry lobby group ADS.

But while sitting on the parliamentary group, Walney spoke at an event run by the D Group – a business membership group that counts BAE among its members – and attended ADS Group’s annual dinner at London’s Grosvenor House. 

Since we wrote to the Home Office to highlight potential conflicts of interest surrounding Walney’s links to the defence industry and the fossil fuel industry, more than 17,000 people have signed our petition calling for him to be removed. And more than three quarters of MPs have received complaints from their constituents about him. 

Last month the Home Office told us it was reviewing his role during a “Counter-Extremism sprint” – a sprint that was due to finish by the start of November and now appears to be limping on into the new year.

Meanwhile Walney continues to push the extreme measures recommended in his report – a report publicly endorsed by ADS Group.

Keir Starmer promised to lead a government of service, to drive through “a clean-up that ensures the highest standards of integrity and honesty”. So why is he keeping on an adviser surrounded by question marks over his links with fossil fuel companies and arms manufacturers?

It’s time for Walney to go. 

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