Miliband ‘looking at’ whether Palestine Action ban was sensible, argues mass arrests 'unintended'

Submitted by Imran Mulla on Tue, 09/29/2026 - 08:47 Foreign secretary's remarks at Labour conference come after arrests made at protest against ban on the direct action group

Supporters of the proscribed group Palestine Action gather to protest outside the conference venue on the first day of the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool, north-west England, on 27 September 2026 (AFP) Off

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has said the government is “looking at” whether the ban on Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation was politically sensible, arguing that the government had not intended for mass arrests to take place by implementing the proscription.

Miliband’s comments came at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool the day after the mass arrest of protesters against the ban outside the conference.

“I believe in the right to peaceful protest, I think that is important,” Miliband said in an interview on LBC on Tuesday.

Notably the foreign secretary avoided defending the ban on Palestine Action, which was introduced in the summer of 2025 under Keir Starmer’s premiership.

“On the specific issue of Palestine Action,” Miliband said, “there’s a case coming before the Supreme Court and so I’ll let that case play out, because I think it’s important that that court process takes its course.”

Pressed by interviewer Andrew Marr on whether he believed proscribing Palestine Action with “all those elderly people and vicars and grannies and so on" was politically sensible, Miliband responded: “I don’t think anyone’s intent was to have those people criminalised, but obviously the Supreme Court has got to look at this issue, and obviously it’s something we keep looking at as government.”

Speculation ban might be lifted

Miliband’s remarks have sparked speculation that the government might ultimately lift the ban on Palestine Action.

Starmer’s government proscribed Palestine Action in July 2025, meaning that expressing support for or membership of the direct action group - which aimed to cause property damage to companies manufacturing weapons that would be sold to Israel - is a criminal offence that could lead to a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Palestine Action: Police arrest protesters throughout the night outside Labour conference Read More »

The ban has been widely denounced as draconian by human rights organisations. Thousands of people have been arrested since it came into effect for acts of civil disobedience.

Since Burnham became prime minister, he has publicly ignored the issue. But protesters hope that his arrival could lead to the ban being overturned, if they keep the pressure up.

On Sunday more than 250 protesters held up placards which read “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action”. Eighty-two people were arrested, with a further 79 people reported for summons, according to Merseyside police.

Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, is appealing a Court of Appeal decision earlier this year upholding the proscription as lawful.

The case is due to be heard at the Supreme Court later this year.

Defend Our Juries, which organises the protests against the ban, responded on X to Miliband’s comments by saying the ban was a “political decision, not a legal one”.

The group added that it “does not require the Supreme Court to overturn it”.

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