Diane Abbott leads rebellion against banning Palestine Action

Telegraph

3 days ago

Diane Abbott joined other Left-wing Labour MPs in rebelling against proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
Legislation to proscribe the group under the Terrorism Act 2000 passed in the House of Commons on Wednesday, with MPs voting 385 to 26 in favour, a majority of 359.
Nine Labour MPs voted against, either by themselves or by proxy, along with a number of suspended former Labour MPs such as Jeremy Corbyn, the party's former leader, and John McDonnell, the ex-shadow chancellor.
The motion is expected to be debated and voted on by the House of Lords on Thursday, before it becomes law.
If it is approved, it will become a criminal offence to be a member of the group or to support it, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Dan Jarvis, the security minister, told MPs that protesters 'have always been able to, and can continue to' express support for Palestine.
However, he added: '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.'
Palestine Action is seeking a legal challenge against the Government's bid to proscribe it. A hearing on Friday will decide whether the ban can be temporarily blocked, pending further proceedings to decide whether the group can bring a legal challenge.
The proscription comes after two planes were vandalised at RAF Brize Norton on June 20, in an action claimed by Palestine Action.
Five people have since been arrested on suspicion of a terror offence in relation to the incident.
Mr Jarvis said the attack at RAF Brize Norton 'was just the latest episode in Palestine Action's long history of harmful activity'.
He added: 'Palestine Action has orchestrated a nationwide campaign of property damage featuring attacks that have resulted in serious damage to property and crossed the threshold from direct criminal action into terrorism.'
'Draconian overreach'
But the minister faced backlash from some MPs who described the move as a 'draconian overreach' and likened the group to the Suffragettes.
Zarah Sultana, the Independent MP for Coventry South, said: 'To equate a spray can of paint with a suicide bomb isn't just absurd, it is grotesque.
'It is a deliberate distortion of the law to chill dissent, criminalise solidarity and suppress the truth.'
Clive Lewis, the Labour MP for Norwich South who is a formrer soldier, said: 'I understand what terrorism is. I was in London on July 7 in 2007 and I watched my community, this city, attacked by real terrorists.'
Mr Lewis continued: 'And at that point, rightly or wrongly, I decided I was going to Afghanistan to fight the terrorists.
'And I went because I love this country, and I love our democracy, and I want to see it protected. I think today's proscription order against Palestine Action undermines that and I wish my Government wouldn't do it.'
Lord Walney, the former independent advisor to the Government on political violence, said: 'It's good to see that MPs have voted overwhelmingly in support of proscribing Palestine Action.
'This is not about banning peaceful protest but putting a stop to a group known for its use of violence and intimidation of workers.
'Labour must make clear to the rebels that once proscription is in place, any further sympathy for this group will result in their immediate expulsion from the Party.'
The legislation approved by MPs also bans two white supremacist groups, Maniacs Murder Cult and Russian Imperial Movement, including its paramilitary arm Russian Imperial Legion.
The Home Office describes the Maniacs Murder Cult as a neo-Nazi transnational and online organisation which has claimed a number of violent attacks around the world.
Russian Imperial Movement is an ethno-nationalist group which aims to create a new Russian Imperial State. Its paramilitary unit fought alongside Russian forces in the invasion of Ukraine to advance its ideological cause.
It also runs a paramilitary training programme to support terror attacks, the Home Office added.
Arrests after mobility-scooter protest
On Wednesday evening, four people were arrested after a Westminster protest by Palestine Action.
They included 'a man who blocked the gates of Downing Street with his mobility scooter', the Metropolitan Police said.
A Met Police spokesman said: 'Officers have made four arrests in the vicinity of the Palestine Action protest taking place in Westminster [on Wednesday] evening.'
He continued: 'Public Order Act conditions had been imposed to prevent serious disruption, requiring anyone taking part in the protest to assemble on Richmond Terrace, off Whitehall.
'A man who blocked the gates of Downing Street with his mobility scooter and refused to move to the conditioned area was arrested for breaching the conditions.
'A woman who locked herself onto a suitcase outside the gates of Parliament has also been arrested for breaching the conditions and for being in possession of articles intended for locking-on.
'A man who was with her and refused to move to the conditioned area was arrested for breaching the conditions. A fourth man has also been arrested for breaching conditions.'
During the protest, more than 1,000 demonstrators listened to a raft of speeches which were broken up with chants of 'free, free Palestine' and 'from the river to the sea'.
Three MPs – Jeremy Corbyn, Ayoub Khan and John McDonnell – were among speakers. Mr McDonnell said the proposed proscription 'was an attack on democracy and an attack on all of us'.
Towards the end of the two-hour demonstration, two men dressed in the Israeli flag appeared nearby.
This prompted louder chanting from the activists. Some sang 'death, death to the IDF' and 'IDF are terrorists'.