Hundreds Defy Palestine Action Ban at Burnham’s First Labour Conference

Por Harriet Williamson — Novara Media

Almost 200 people gathered outside Andy Burnham’s first Labour party conference as prime minister to defy the ban on Palestine Action by holding signs that read “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action”. 

Two hours into the demonstration on Sunday 27 September – the opening day of the conference in Liverpool – Merseyside police had arrested 15 people under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act.

Those taking part said they were doing so to oppose Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, to put pressure on Burnham to drop the ban on Palestine Action and to highlight a pressing free speech issue in Britain. 

Protesters, the majority of them retirees, unveiled or penned their signs at 1pm. The demonstration was mostly seated and included British medics, members of the clergy and disabled people with mobility aids. 

Bill, a 71-year-old Church of England priest wearing his red stole and dog collar, told Novara Media: “This is the right place to be, this is where God is.” 

As police started carrying elderly people away, shouts of “well done for arresting pensioners” and “very brave of you to arrest an old man” could be heard. 

Organisers Defend Our Juries said 195 people were taking part in the action.  

Margaret, a Jewish former human rights lawyer believed to be the oldest demonstrator at age 94, told Novara Media: “I’m horrified, disgusted, angry that my government is supporting Israel.

“Whatever Ed Miliband said two Tuesdays ago about the illegal occupation of the West Bank, he did not call it a genocide and he did not ban all arms to Israel. I am here because I want Andy Burnham to lift the ban –  not later, right now, this weekend – to call it a genocide and stop arming Israel.”

Mike, 63, who is visually impaired and uses a wheelchair, said the signs used at these demonstrations would one day be on display in museums “in 100 years, when we’re all dead”. He said he’d been arrested six times at similar protests. 

A police lieutenant told Novara Media that the force had enough resources to deal with the number of protesters being arrested, and refused to comment on whether this was a good use of police time. 

A Defend Our Juries spokesperson called the arrests “shameful and chilling”, telling Novara Media: “Yet again, hundreds of people have turned out to sit in silence, holding signs stating their solidarity with the Palestinian people and their opposition to the UK’s complicity in genocide. Yet again, they are each facing arrest as terrorists.

“It is not enough for Andy Burnham to state that Israel is committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing in Palestine. Public pressure is mounting for him to take meaningful action, as international law compels us all to do in the face of genocide,” they said. 

“Deproscribing Palestine Action and ending the prosecution and jailing of people who stand up against genocide is an essential first step, alongside enforcing the law against Elbit Systems and the Israeli government,” they added, referring to an Israeli weapons firm frequently targeted by the group.  

Amnesty International UK’s chief executive, Kerry Moscogiuri, said: “The arrests of grandparents, teenagers and everyone in between for holding placards outside the Labour party conference are a truly shameful attack on freedom of speech. 

“The new prime minister can reform our laws so that communities are protected in coming together and demonstrating on the issues they care about – will he do so?” 

On Saturday, Massive Attack frontman Robert Del Naja was also arrested under the Terrorism Act outside the Labour conference venue for peacefully holding a paper sign that read: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action”.

Showing support for or being a member of the group can carry a maximum sentence of up to 14 years in prison. It was proscribed as a terror organisation in July 2025 under Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, marking the first such ban on a direct action group. 

Since then, more than 3,500 people have been arrested, the vast majority for peacefully holding signs. 

Fonte: Novara Media