Latest editorial
Just Stop Oil protesters take part in a walking protest blocking Whitehall in central London, November 6, 2023
AN ACTIVIST facing a prison sentence has condemned his trial as a “shambles” after the judge barred protesters from mounting a defence that they were opposing climate change.
Daniel Hall was one of three activists from Just Stop Oil found guilty at Southwark Crown Court on May 15 after they were tried for staging a 20-minute protest march along Cromwell Road in London. The rally was to demand the government end all licences and consents for new oil, gas, and coal projects.
The trial was the first prosecution under Section 7 of the Public Order Act 2023, relating to actions “which prevent or significantly delay the operation of key infrastructure, including airports, railways, printing presses and oil and gas infrastructure.”
The Morning Star here publishes a speech that would have been given by Stop the War officer and longtime NEU and NUT activist Alex Kenny on the eve of the verdicts handed to Chris Nineham and Ben Jamal this week. He also explains why he couldn’t give it
The heroism of the jury who defied prison and starvation conditions secured the absolute right of juries to deliver verdicts based on conscience — a convention which is now under attack, writes MAT COWARD
ANSELM ELDERGILL examines the government’s proposals to further limit the right of citizens to trial by jury
![JSO supporters outside the Court of Appeal, January 30, 2025 [Pic: Jamie Lowe]](https://dev.morningstaronline.co.uk/sites/default/files/styles/desktop/public/2025-05/IMAGE_JSO16Appeal_Credit_Jamie_Lowe_300125_013.JPG.webp?itok=WJ545dcH)