Protesters Rally in Liverpool Ahead of Labour Conference to Challenge Palestine Action Ban

London, United Kingdom – Demonstrators are preparing to converge on Liverpool for a “mass, silent sign-holding vigil” as the Labour Party convenes its annual conference, which will be presided over by Prime Minister Andy Burnham for the first time. The rally, organized by the rights group Defend Our Juries, is a direct response to the UK government’s designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization.

Since the group was outlawed in July 2025, a campaign of civil disobedience has resulted in more than 3,600 arrests. Participants have frequently carried signs declaring, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action,” with organizers predicting several hundred attendees at the upcoming protest and further detentions.

Defend Our Juries described the demonstration as an “integrity test” for Burnham’s administration, urging the prime minister to end what they characterize as Britain’s complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank. The group called on Burnham to lift the ban on Palestine Action, noting that the organization primarily targets Elbit Systems, one of Israel’s largest weapons manufacturers.

“If [Prime Minister] Burnham means what he says, that he plans to end Britain’s complicity in Israel’s horrific crimes, then he would stop the arrests of people peacefully demonstrating against the genocide,” the group stated. “We urge PM Burnham to do the only sensible thing and lift the ban on Palestine Action.”

Prime Minister Burnham recently faced additional scrutiny after the investigative outlet Declassified UK reported being denied media accreditation to cover the conference, which runs from Sunday to Wednesday.

Compared to his predecessors, Burnham has adopted a tougher stance on Israeli policies, announcing sanctions earlier this month against illegal settlements and settler violence in the occupied West Bank. However, activists maintain that these measures are insufficient, calling for a complete suspension of arms sales to Israel and the unbaning of Palestine Action.

Experts suggest the Labour Party’s position has evolved gradually under internal pressure. Colm Murphy, a senior lecturer in British politics at Queen Mary University, noted that leaders often attempt to “defang” the Palestine issue to maintain party unity within the first-past-the-post system. He pointed to former Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recognition of a Palestinian state as the culmination of a process initiated by Ed Miliband.

Joseph Willits, head of Parliamentary Affairs at the Council for Arab-British Understanding, argued that the current government’s actions highlight the “inadequacies and lack of will” shown by the previous Labour administration. He specifically cited Starmer’s initial comments supporting Israel’s right to cut off water supplies to Gaza as damaging, though he acknowledged that Burnham and Miliband have since demonstrated political will to act.

The question remains whether Burnham’s government will reverse the terrorist designation of Palestine Action, particularly given that US President Donald Trump recently outlawed the group in America. Willits suggested it was too early to predict the outcome, wondering if the issue would become a “battle line” with the Trump administration or if Burnham had already chosen his priorities elsewhere.

Murphy added that the Labour leadership might address the ban if the issue regains salience in British politics, acknowledging that the upcoming protest could help elevate its profile.