Ed Miliband has stated that the decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was not intended to criminalize elderly individuals and peaceful demonstrators, a comment welcomed by campaign groups as the UK faces further legal challenges regarding the ban.
During a conversation with representatives from Defend Our Juries at a Pizza Express, the foreign secretary acknowledged that no government intent existed to target “grannies” and vicars. The group responded positively to what they described as the minister’s honesty, asserting that his remarks would bolster their upcoming legal challenge before the Supreme Court.
“I don’t think anyone’s intent was to have those people criminalised,” Miliband told the group. However, the Supreme Court must still review the issue, and the government continues to monitor the situation closely. Defend Our Juries stated they welcome this admission, arguing it proves the proscription disproportionately impacts the right to free speech and was not properly considered by officials.
Separately, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s camp is navigating domestic policy debates. Andy Burnham has promised to roll back privatization through a government-backed grid plan. Meanwhile, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has publicly restated her opposition to scrapping the pensions triple lock, emphasizing the need for the Labour Party to show it stands with working-class people.
Wild to see Starmer’s inner circle simultaneously dealing with unions and privatization. The policy contradictions are getting harder to ignore.
Miliband is just trying to soften the blow before the Supreme Court ruling. Does intent actually matter if people are still prosecuted?
It is about time the government admitted this was disproportionate. Criminalizing grandmothers undermines the entire legal basis for the ban.