Palestine Action: Proscription and Protests Debate

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Department: Home Office

Palestine Action: Proscription and Protests

Richard Foord Excerpts
Monday 8th September 2025

(2 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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Dan Jarvis Portrait Dan Jarvis
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With great respect, and I do not mean to be flippant, I think it is a rather unfortunate use of “sledgehammer”, given previous events. No, I do not agree with my hon. Friend. I think the actions of the Government have been necessary and proportionate for the reasons I explained earlier. I worry that there are a number of people who seek to express support for an organisation who do not fully understand the activities that that organisation has engaged in in recent times.

Richard Foord Portrait Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth) (LD)
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Mr Justice Chamberlain granted the judicial review on the basis that the Home Secretary had not consulted Palestine Action before proscribing it. The judge ruled that it was “reasonably arguable” that there was a duty to consult Palestine Action before proscribing it, as reported in The Guardian. If organisations meet a high standard and a high threshold for proscription under the Terrorism Act, why should there be a duty to consult that organisation before proscribing it?