When Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pushed through the proscription of Palestine Action this summer, she became the first Labour minister in decades to wield Britain’s sweeping counter-terror powers against a domestic protest group. Within weeks, nearly 900 demonstrators were arrested in London alone, most for nothing more than carrying placards or chanting slogans.
Now, questions are being asked not only about the government’s heavy-handed tactics – but also about the political contradictions at the very top of the Labour Party.
A Party of Protest – Until Now?
Labour has historically been entwined with protest movements. From the suffragettes who fought for women’s votes, to miners’ strikes, anti-apartheid boycotts and mass marches against the Iraq war, acts of civil disobedience have shaped the party’s identity. Senior figures, including leader Sir Keir Starmer, cut their teeth as human rights lawyers, often defending protest rights in court.
Yet today, Labour’s top team defends the decision to treat Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. Critics say this stance is indistinguishable from the authoritarian instincts of past Conservative governments the party once opposed.
A Tale of Two Movements
The suffragette campaigns of the early 20th century involved arson, property damage, and even explosives. Yet their legacy is celebrated – blue plaques, museums, school curricula. Meanwhile, Palestine Action’s occupations of factories and offices, while disruptive, have not caused deaths or serious injuries. Instead of public commemoration, its supporters face terrorism charges carrying up to 10 years in prison.
The comparison has not gone unnoticed. As one legal observer put it:
“We cheer the suffragettes for breaking windows in 1913, but call pensioners with placards ‘terrorists’ in 2025. The inconsistency is staggering.”
Political Questions Without Answers
The crackdown has exposed splits even within Labour. Some MPs, such as Stella Creasy, have warned that applying terrorism laws to expressions of solidarity risks criminalising ordinary citizens. Others have been more cautious, reluctant to challenge the leadership’s line.
The Home Office insists proscription was “proportionate and necessary.” But critics argue that what is at stake is nothing less than the right to peaceful protest.
Key questions remain unanswered:
- Why were terrorism laws – designed for violent threats – used against people carrying signs?
- Does the government recognise the chilling effect this will have on political activism?
- How can Labour reconcile its proud tradition of protest with its endorsement of laws now used to silence it?
What Happens Next?
- A judicial review of the proscription is scheduled for 25 September 2025 at the High Court. Palestine Action will argue that banning a protest group in its entirety breaches Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
- Further demonstrations are planned across the country in the weeks ahead. Police have warned they will continue to apply counter-terror laws robustly.
- Civil liberties groups, including Liberty and Amnesty International UK, are preparing legal interventions and urging Parliament to rethink the scope of the Terrorism Act.
What You Can Do
- Stay Informed: Follow updates from trusted media outlets and rights groups like Netpol and Amnesty UK.
- Know Your Rights: Download a bust card with key legal advice from netpol.org.
- Contact Your MP: Constituents have the right to raise concerns about how terrorism laws are being used. Click to Find Your MP.
- Document Responsibly: If attending protests, film responsibly and be aware of your surroundings. Videos of arrests can be vital evidence in court.
- Seek Legal Help: If stopped or detained, ask for a solicitor immediately and exercise your right to silence.
Britain once celebrated those who broke unjust laws in the name of freedom. Today, it risks criminalising people for holding a banner. The legal battle now unfolding will test whether the country still values dissent – or whether the definition of terrorism will be stretched to silence it.