This was Zarah Sultana MP's speech in the Commons yesterday on the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, which the nodding donkeys in Labour later voted through:
Twenty-one years ago, a human rights barrister stood in court and defended an activist who broke into RAF Fairford trying to disable a bomber to prevent war crimes in Iraq. That became a landmark case in lawful, non-violent direct action against an illegal war. That barrister is now our Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer KC. He argued that it was not terrorism but conscience.
Fast-forward to 20 June 2025: two Palestine Action activists entered RAF Brize Norton and sprayed red paint—red paint, not fire—on aircraft linked to surveillance flights over Gaza. Instead of prosecuting them for criminal damage, which is what normally is done, the Home Secretary is using the Terrorism Act 2000 to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group. This is an unprecedented and dangerous overreach of the state. Never before in Britain has it been a crime to simply support a group.
This order lumps a non-violent network of students, nurses, teachers, firefighters and peace campaigners—ordinary people, my constituents and yours—with neo-Nazi militias and mass-casualty cults. Palestine Action's crime is, we have to be clear, shutting down Elbit Systems sites that arm the Israeli military; its true offence is being audacious enough to expose the blood-soaked ties between this Government and the genocidal Israeli apartheid state and its war machine.
Let us be clear: to equate a spray can of paint with a suicide bomb is not just absurd; it is grotesque. It is a deliberate distortion of the law to chill dissent, criminalise solidarity and suppress the truth. Amnesty international, Liberty, over 266 senior lawyers and UN special rapporteurs have all opposed these draconian measures. Even at this late stage, the order should be withdrawn.
Under this order, anyone expressing moral support for a proscribed group could face 14 years in prison. That includes wearing a badge, wearing a T-shirt, sharing a post or calling for de-proscription. And journalists have no exemption either: there is no legal protection for reporting favourably, even factually, about Palestine Action. By this weekend, millions of people, including many of our constituents, could be placed under these sweeping restrictions.
Let us not forget what is happening in Gaza, where the real crimes are being ignored: hospitals bombed, children starved, and tens of thousands of people killed. Palestinian children now suffer more amputations per capita than children anywhere else on earth. Israel is on trial for genocide at the International Court of Justice and the Israeli Prime Minister faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, yet the Government's response is to criminalise solidarity and to continue exporting lethal F-35 jets that are decimating Gaza.
We also have to understand the history of this country and what built our democracy: the tradition of civil disobedience that includes the suffragettes, without whom I would not have the vote, let alone the privilege of being here as an MP.
Even those who oppose Palestine Action's tactics must recognise the vast gulf between criminal damage and terrorism. If this order passes, what and who is next—climate protesters, striking workers, feminists in the street? Already we have seen a wider crackdown on our civil liberties—musicians censored, journalists arrested, and demonstrators, including MPs sitting here, harassed—and now this Government want to use anti-terror laws to make peaceful protest itself a crime. If our democratic institutions functioned as they should, none of this would be necessary.
To conclude, if this proscription passes, as it will, we have to understand that no campaign will be safe tomorrow. We have to recognise that this will go down as a dark day in our country's history and one that will be remembered: people will ask, “Which side were you on?” and I stand with the millions of people who oppose genocide, because I am one of them. I oppose the blood-soaked hands of this Government trying to silence us. So I say this loudly and proudly on Wednesday 2 July 2025: we are all Palestine.
I agree.
Jeremy Corbyn said this in the debate:
If the order goes through today, it will have a chilling effect on protest. I quote a letter sent to the Home Secretary on 28 June:
“Direct action is a longstanding and respected part of British political history. From the suffragettes chaining themselves to railings, to striking miners, to anti-apartheid campaigners occupying institutions and disrupting trade, civil disobedience and direct action have always been necessary forces for progress and justice.”
He was right.
And I note this Tweet:
That's what hypocrisy looks like, Labour style.
Yesterday was another very sorry day in the long history of the oppression of the freedom to protest in the UK. And whether Labour likes it or not, the fact that they so clearly side with genocide will not be hidden from view.
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LINO policy ” tough on protest but not tough on the causes of protest”.
🙂
PM’s office two weeks ago – phone rings, PM picks up – hello?
Benji: ‘ello prime minster how are you how are the kids? – this is Benji here. Just a quick call to make sure we are all on the same page as my good friend Donny would say”
Starmer: “erm well yes everything is fine”
Benji: “good, look, I hope you are going to get after those terrorists who spray painted the planes – makes us look bad not to speak of your security – we could lend you some of our guys if you want?”
Starmer: “erm…. (thinking) thanks but no thanks we have tightened things up and I don’t think it will happen again”
Benji: “very good – & what about the terrorist group – we have it on good authority from Mossad that they are Moscow funded”
Starmer: “gosh, really. – well that does put a different light on things”
Benji: “so can we count on you to do the right thing – us zionists need to stick together for the greater Israel”
Starmer: “absolutely – I will instruct Yvette to go after them and ban the group”
Benji: “who’s Yvette – your secretary?”
Starmer: “no but I’ll get it sorted as youhave instructed”
Benji: good.
Click.
The United Kingdom – an oblast of Greater israel.
Thank you and well said, Mike.
I love how you depict what’s going on.
Your conclusion is spot on. It goes back decades.
Cooperation was formalised under Blair in the early noughties (resulting in Israeli personnel patrolling the UK, including the team that killed Jean-Charles de Menezes, covered up by the DPP, Starmer) and Johnson.
There have been rumours of Israeli personnel in Northern Ireland in the 1970s and the miners’ strike.
The Home Office funds the Community Security Trust, £80m pa, and Shomrim, a Jewish only quasi police force in areas with significant Jewish populations.
Colonel Smithers alleges Israelis were in the (SO19) specialist Metropolitan Police squad that killed Jean-Charlesde Menezes 20 years ago at Stockwell underground station in south London. I carried out an extensive Chat GTP search, and it did not confirm this.
What source do you have? It is important not to attribute malign actions to Israelis without evidence.
George Monbiot has a comment on the proscription of PA here:
“Sharing This Video Could Get You 14 Years in Prison”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECkVO4F_38I
Perhaps listening to groups like Palestine Action might improve the chance of the long term survival of the State of Israel.
I suggest that its current actions may well have pressed the self destruct button
I suggested, in October 2023, that was Hamas intention when they carried out their appalling attack on Israel.
Thank you, Cindy.
May I suggest that the Hamas action was born out of desperation, including to scupper the initiative to sell out Palestine and facilitate a rapprochement between the Gulf monarchies and Israel.
You will not find one person in / from the global south / zone B who condemns Hamas. It’s not for us to determine how people resist oppression.
Colonel
The action by Hamas was appalling, in terms of the loss of human life and the suffering caused. That does not mean it was not borne out of desperation nor that it should be considered in isolation from the whole history in the area since, at least 1947.
I did wonder at the time whether its ferocity was intended to result in an out of proportion and appalling Israeli reaction, which should have led to Israel becoming a pariah state.
I thoroughly agree but would add that this is what happens when you employ private contractors to do government business and whom have property rights.
I noticed six Lib Dem MPs voted both ways. ( The other 66 did not vote at all.) seems a bit odd.
They voted for banning two organisations and against banning one.
There is a logic in that. I approve of the political point. Cooper was deeply cynical by linking three organisations in this motion.
The BMA want to sever links with Israel.
I wonder what Starmer will have to say. The Establishment’s claim to the moral high ground is being undermined.
https://skwawkbox.org/2025/07/02/british-medical-association-severs-ties-with-israel-over-gaza-palantir/
Whatever happened to Labour rebels? Only 10 voted against this . Are the rest all bought and paid for by Israel?
Good question
I support Zara Sultana. What a woman! (and grossly, misogynistically, islamophobically and politically abused by McTeam).
This ITN piece is heartbreaking.
This picture of a little girl in Gaza who is wasting away, and jsut wants to look like she used to. is one that should be plastered all over the media today.
Do look.
Then do something.. this has to stop…
https://www.itv.com/news/2025-07-02/i-want-to-look-like-i-used-to-malnourished-amal-7-pleads-for-help-in-gaza?fbclid=IwY2xjawLTIr1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBhT2lRalh5eEQzVnRIM2dMAR5v2AGG-TNsrDsC87wMLqnvPw4QX92o_sZUslxuTsudhr7ldbqzzMbIqBt72Q_aem_N92GzcN1RcilsOETsGV5ow
And people in Israel wonder why their government is hated?
Here is the link to Zara Sultana’s speech.
https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/8229b116-8785-4a38-8b07-f590fcb81a4d?in=16:40:00
She has a functioning moral compass. Starmer’s Labour can’t cope with her, for exactly that reason.
Last evening after the voting recording the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group was published on the Parliamentary web site, I directly emailed 15 MPs who I considered in the more progressive wing of the Parliamentary Labour Party to express my astonishment they had voted for this appallingly draconian legislation;; and I said I had regarded them as on the sensible wing of the party, so why had they voted this way? I don’t expect many/any responses, but aiI want them to know they are being watched and voting for such regressive legislation has consequences.
For balance, I also emailed a new Lib Dem MP who voted against to thank her for doing so.
In addition to Zarah Sultana’s barnstorming speech, and Jeremy Corbyn’s usual measured intervention on behalf of the right side of history, Leeds Labour MP Richard Burgon ( who along with Sultanas was suspended for a period from the Parliamentary Labour Party, but unlike her has been let back in) made a serious and considered intervention strongly opposing the banning and proscription of Palestine Action. Look up the debate in line and marvel at the pig headed ignorance of the concept of liberty of our so called security minister who led the debate because Yvette Cooper failed to present her own draconian legislation. She will live to deeply regret this worst possible attack on civil liberties ever implemented by a Labour Government.
Starmer’s liking for authoritarianism has risen to the top
Only 20 MPs voted against the amendment, including Clive Lewis.
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?gid=2025-07-02a.346.0#g371.7
Worth reading the whole debate. Chi Onwurah mentioned the Suffragettes. Then she voted with the government.
I liked John McDonnell asking if he would be arrested if he went outside after the vote and told those protesting that he had voted against the proscription.
They go on about orchestrated violence and damage countrywide, but it’s only against Elbit Systems which is an Israeli company making arms to use in Israel against Gaza, and then they can sell them as battle-ready.
All those who voted in favour should be sat down in a room and made to watch the film about hospitals in Gaza that was on Channel 4 last night, as should the nearly 250 MPs who did not vote or abstain.
One thing I have just thought about. Will MPs still be able to mention Palestine Action in parliament, under parliamentary privilege? I can see a lot of interruptions if so.
I don’t know the answer to that question
Of course they will be able to mention a proscribed organization in Parliament. Parliament endows a qualified privilege on MPs and Peers to raise matters that would attract legal action if spoken outside Parliament. But just mentioning proscribed organizations by name is not prohibited.For example, Hamas is proscribed, but is mentioned publicly widely every day by thousands of people, not least by politicians and the media.
That would depend on the Speaker and his Deputy Speakers.
Don’t get your hopes up.
He has already been leaned on by Starmer.
If he rules it out of order and an MP ignores the ruling, the MP can be “named” (kicked out of the chamber – last occasion was when an MP – Dawn Butler – committed the horrendous crime of calling Boris Johnson a liar and refused to withdraw the word).
Of course, if there were enough MPs like Dawn Butler, this repressive tactic would not work. Dennis Skinner never let that put him off.
If you check Hansard
https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025-07-02/debates/6C9338E8-E516-494A-81A2-B3FEF549DD48/PreventionAndSuppressionOfTerrorism (do a “find in page” search for “Sultana” – entry number 3, speech begins 4:40pm, ends 4:44.
against Parliamentlive’s video of her speech, you will see her final word “Action” doesn’t find its way into Hansard as the Deputy Speaker cried “Order” as she said it (twice), possibly because she was out of time – backbenchers were limited to 4 minutes.
Many people believe that Hansard records the actual words said in Parliament. This has never been true, it records what they intended to say, or in this case, what the Deputy Speaker would hae ruled IN order, and not what was out of order.
Thanks
Useful
How many protesters can be sentenced to prison before the prisons can’t accommodate them? Not many, I imagine. So will the mere threat of prison, rather than actual imprisonment, be the only sanction that can realistically be used?
Fines, expuslion from university, whispered words and sanctions for benefits all work very well, I am afraid.
When it is debated in the lords, could they vote against it, then add an amendment removing PA from it, and saying they might vote for it if the amendment was accepted?
I know most lords amendments get voted down in parliament, but it would be good to show their solidarity. There are 120 MPs who are members of LFI, but only 36 lords.
I also note that Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East has a disclaimer about people who support them but are not allowed to say so. Front benchers?
We can live in hope.
I am sure some peers will argue against this.
Regarding the live stream of Bob Vylan comments at Glastonbury on Thursday, “Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the House of Commons, [..] we heard in the House the absolute shocking stories of the impact this has had on the Jewish community in this country” — “BBC staff told to ‘step back’ from duties following row” (2025) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjkmlj1348o
Yet the shocking stories of the impact of Israel on the Palestinian community in this country and in Gaza is supported by the UK government; starvation of civilians, in IACs and NIACs, is a prohibited method of warfare under Article 54(1) of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions. And the Geneva Convention prohibition attacks on civilians.
Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights recognizes and protects the right to peaceful protest.
Did she watch Channel 4 last night?
Does she really think criticism of the IDF, even ill advisedly made, more dangerous than the genocide Israel is conducting in Israel?
Really?
How?
Lisa Nandy used to be chair of LFPME. She apparently ran it into the ground so it no longer works.
https://www.declassifieduk.org/what-happened-to-labour-friends-of-palestine/
https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2025/07/03/soas-student-palestine/
Could this really happen?
I can’t see how, unless it is under broader terrorism laws for supposedly (I use the word advisedly) supporting Hamas.
What I hadn’t appreciated due to the complete failure of the MSM to cover this attack on our democratic freedoms is that the Statutory Instrument put forward by the Government yesterday sought to proscribe three terrorist organisations. The Maniacs Murder Cult, the Russian Imperial Movement and Palestine Action, Apparently the Maniacs Murder Cult are a violent and extreme neo-Nazi group participating in hate crimes, assault and murder. Thus the vote was won as MPs didn’t want to vote against proscribing this group. To call this cynical is an understatement. My view of Starmer and his Labour Party has sunk to a new low. How despicable can they get. And how can it be lawful to put forward a group of organisations and not make the vote on them be for each individual organisation.
This is why six LibDems voted for and against the motion
Owen Jones is reporting (Jul 02, 2025) that over 100 BBC journalists have written an open letter in which they say they “we’re forced to do pro-Israel PR”.
This doesn’t look good.
https://www.owenjones.news/p/bbc-staff-were-forced-to-do-pro-israel
I have retweeted it
100% of Green MPs voted against 🙂
I have no intention of removing myself from PA’s membership list. Come and get me coppers, I ain’t afraid of you 😛
And yes, that is my real full name.
https://t.co/TITgQTqC8Z
Maybe some hope at last ?
Maybe…
Zarah Sultana is apparently setting up a new party with Jeremy Corbyn.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyel9kgdvdo
I’m trying to be hopeful about this, but I’ve almost forgotten how to be.
I will comment soon