The suspension of a Tube driver who led a pro-Palestine chant is part of “a broader lurch into authoritarianism” in the UK, campaigners for climate and racial justice have warned.

A driver on the London underground was recorded saying “free, free” over the train’s tannoy last weekend, to which passengers – many of whom were on their way to a Palestine solidarity march – responded “Palestine”.

Both Transport for London, which has suspended the driver, and the British Transport Police are investigating videos of the chant, which were shared on social media.

But campaigners have told openDemocracy that the investigations and the fierce backlash by politicians are typical of a government that “wants us to be fearful” of backing movements it disagrees with.

Chantelle Lunt, an activist and the founder of Merseyside Black Lives Matter Alliance and Merseyside Alliance for Racial Equality, said the police’s involvement is “completely disproportionate”, adding that “at worst, this should have remained a workplace matter”.

Lunt continued: “There was no malice in what he was saying. So the fact that British Transport Police then deems it appropriate to open a criminal investigation is just ridiculous. And I don't think the intent behind it is actually to investigate or to charge him with anything. The intent behind it is social control.

“They want a lot of us in workspaces who are out there watching from the peripherals to go, ‘Oh my God, the police have opened an investigation into this gentleman for literally saying ‘free free’ over the tannoy, what are they going to do to me if I go to a protest? What are they going to do to me if I show solidarity with Palestine?’

“And that's what they want, they want us to be fearful. And they want us to be concerned about standing in solidarity.”

Lunt’s fears were echoed by James Skeet, a spokesperson for Just Stop Oil, who said the treatment of the driver is “part of a broader lurch into authoritarianism”, adding: “It should be pretty clear to anyone paying attention that we don't live in any sort of meaningful democracy.”

Skeet continued: “The fact is that our political class has been bought by corporations effectively. For example, with the regulations that are coming into force that are being used to try to take away all of our rights to protest and to speak out about things – that was drafted by Policy Exchange, who received funding from Exxon Mobil.

“And you can see this tangled web of corporate interests. We're seeing it with what's happening with Israel as well. It's pretty concerning.”

A day before the Tube driver was accused of leading the chants, the Metropolitan Police outlined the policing strategy for Palestine solidarity demonstrations in London on X, formerly Twitter.

The force said that while there are scenarios where pro-Palestine chants could be unlawful, such as outside a synagogue or Jewish school or when intended to directly intimidate Jewish people, they are not an offence when used in wider protest settings.

Lunt told openDemocracy that the driver’s actions did not breach this guidance.

She explained: “The train was heading into Marble Arch, it was transporting almost entirely people who were heading to one of the largest demonstrations in support of justice for Palestinians that we’ve seen in a long time.”

Skeet agreed, branding the police’s involvement as “totally mad”. He said: “I think it reveals everything about the nature of what's going on. The vast majority of people in the UK are not supporting what's happening.”

He said: “We're seeing our political establishment attempt to make it seem like those who are calling for peace are in some way sympathetic to Hamas, and in some way extremist, which is just not representative of where the country lies on this issue.”

Organisers estimate that at least 300,000 people marched in London to protest against Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip, and similar demonstrations took place in cities across the UK.

At the time of writing, over 90,000 people have signed an online petition in support of the tube driver.