Over 50 Arrested at Protest Outside Labour Conference
Demonstrators supporting the banned Palestine Action group were detained by police for alleged offenses under the Terrorism Act.
Police arrested more than 50 demonstrators outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Saturday, the BBC reported. The protesters were gathered in support of the banned group Palestine Action. According to Merseyside Police, arrests were made on suspicion of wearing or carrying an article in support of a proscribed organization, citing the Terrorism Act.
More than 250 protesters had gathered outside the conference venue, many holding banners that read "I support Palestine Action." Officers warned demonstrators that they were illegally displaying support for a banned organization before initiating arrests. A police spokesperson stated that while the right to protest lawfully is respected, maintaining peace and public safety is also a priority, and that not all attendees were committing criminal offenses.
The arrests drew criticism from Amnesty International, which described the actions as a "shameful attack on freedom of speech." Among those detained was 94-year-old human rights barrister Margaret Owen. A spokesperson for the group Defend Our Juries expressed hope that a ban on Palestine Action would be reconsidered due to public pressure, calling the continued proscription "illogical, unsustainable and immoral."
In July, a review of Palestine Action's proscription was confirmed to be heading to the Supreme Court. The group's co-founder was granted permission to appeal the ban, which came into effect in July 2025. The Home Office has maintained that the ban is due to the group causing "significant criminal damage to legitimate businesses," rather than its support for Palestinian causes. Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal have previously ruled that Palestine Action's activities have included criminal acts, though they differed on whether these justified the use of terrorism legislation.
