Ten Labour MPs voted against move to proscribe Palestine Action as terror group
Ten Labour MPs, including one teller, voted against the Government’s moves to proscribe direct action group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
According to Commons data, those in the “no” lobby were Mother of the House Diane Abbott, Tahir Ali (Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley), Richard Burgon (Leeds East), Ian Byrne (Liverpool West Derby), Imran Hussain (Bradford East), Kim Johnson (Liverpool Riverside), Clive Lewis (Norwich South), Grahame Morris (Easington) and Nadia Whittome (Nottingham East).
The tellers who verified the count for the aye votes were Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill) and Independent MP Ayoub Khan (Birmingham Perry Barr).
Holly Evans2 July 2025 18:06
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Holly Evans2 July 2025 17:56
Move to proscribe Palestine Action as a terror group supported by Commons
Legislation to proscribe direct action group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation has been supported by the Commons.
MPs voted 385 to 26, majority 359 in favour of the Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025.
The motion is expected to be debated and voted on by the House of Lords on Thursday before it becomes law.
Holly Evans2 July 2025 17:49
Independent MP says move is ‘unprecedented and dangerous overreach of the state’
Independent MP for Coventry South Zarah Sultana said of the move to proscribe Palestine Action: “This order lumps a nonviolent network of students, nurses, teachers, firefighters and peace campaigners – ordinary people, my constituents and yours – with neo-Nazi militias and mass-casualty cults.”
Ms Sultana said the group had thrown “red paint not fire on aircraft linked to surveillance flights over Gaza”, adding: “Instead of prosecuting them for criminal damage, which is what normally is done, the Home Secretary (Yvette Cooper) is using the Terrorism Act to proscribe them as a terrorist group.
“This is an unprecedented and dangerous overreach of the state.”
Several MPs said “no, we’re not” as she ended her speech with: “We are all Palestine Action.”
Holly Evans2 July 2025 17:44
‘No political convenience’ in banning Palestine Action, says minister
Home Office minister Dan Jarvis said “there is no political convenience” to its plans to proscribe Palestine Action, adding: “What we are seeking to do today is ensure the security of our country.”
He said the attack at RAF Brize Norton “was just the latest episode in Palestine Action’s long history of harmful activity”, adding: “Palestine Action has orchestrated a nation-wide campaign of property damage featuring attacks that have resulted in serious damage to property and crossed the threshold from direct criminal action into terrorism.
“Palestine Action members have used violence against people responding at the scene of attack. For their roles in co-ordinated attacks, members of the organisation have been charged with serious offences, including violent disorder, grievous bodily harm with intent, and aggravated burglary, which is an offence involving a weapon.”
Intervening, Labour MP Clive Lewis (Norwich South) said the issues the minister had spoken about “could be dealt with under criminal law”, adding: “There is a long history in this country of direct action which pushes the boundaries of our democracy, it’s very difficult for all of us, but actually they are still direct action, it’s not… terrorist action.”
Mr Jarvis said the Government had to take “difficult decisions about what measures are required in order to keep the public safe”.
Jabed Ahmed2 July 2025 17:26
‘Palestine Action is not a legitimate protest group,’ says security minister
Protesters expressing support for Palestine “have always been able to, and can continue to do so”, the security minister has said.
Dan Jarvis told the Commons about the move to proscribe the group: “By implementing this measure, we will remove Palestine Action’s veil of legitimacy, tackle its financial support, and degrade its efforts to recruit and radicalise people into committing terrorist activity in its name.
“But we must be under no illusion, Palestine Action is not a legitimate protest group.
“People engaged in lawful protest don’t need weapons. People engaged in lawful protest do not throw smoke bombs and fire pyrotechnics around innocent members of the public.
“And people engaged in lawful protest do not cause millions of pounds of damage to national security infrastructure, including submarines and defence equipment for Nato.
“Proscribing Palestine Action will not impinge on people’s right to protest. Those who wish lawfully to protest or express support for Palestine have always been able to and can continue to do so.
Holly Evans2 July 2025 17:25
Pro-Palestine demonstrators hit out as MPs prepare to debate Palestine Action ban
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Jabed Ahmed2 July 2025 16:47
Minister denies government is rushing Palestine Action terror ban
Home Office minister Dan Jarvis has rejected claims the Government is “rushing” through legislation which will proscribe direct action group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
He told the Commons: “The public attention it has garnered should not be confused with legitimacy, and nor should a group formed five years ago be conflated with the legitimate campaign for Palestinian rights and statehood which has existed in our country and in this House for more than five decades.
“Let me be clear, the proscription of Palestine Action does not seek to ban protest that supports Palestine. There are many ways in which people can continue to lawfully express their support for Palestine without being a member or a supporter of Palestine Action.”
Intervening, Independent MP Zarah Sultana (Coventry South) said: “The minister will be aware that the High Court has granted Palestine Action permission for a legal challenge, rather than the Home Secretary, who is not here today, rushing it through Parliament, shouldn’t this be delayed until the judicial process has concluded?”
Mr Jarvis replied: “We’re certainly not seeking to rush it through Parliament, these are matters that the Home Secretary and I have considered for some time.”
He added: “Should an organisation be proscribed it has the opportunity to pursue a legal route of challenge, that is entirely within the right of any organisation who are proscribed to do so, and that is a matter for them.”
Jabed Ahmed2 July 2025 16:45
Welfare U-turn sparks betting surge on Starmer replacement
Keir Starmer’s leadership has been left on shakey ground after the abrupt U-turn on Labour’s welfare Bill.
With his authority visibly weakened and dissent rumbling across the backbenches, Starmer’s chances of surviving the year are being questioned.
A 2026 exit is now priced at 7/2 (22.2%), according to TalkSPORT Bet, with Labour figures rapidly climbing the betting markets to succeed him.
Herre are the current odds for his successor:
Jabed Ahmed2 July 2025 16:30