Yvette Cooper Defends Palestine Action Ban After Court Rules It Unlawful
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has robustly defended her decision to ban Palestine Action as a terror organisation, following a High Court ruling that declared the move unlawful and "disproportionate". Ms Cooper, who served as Home Secretary at the time, proscribed the group in July last year under the Terrorism Act 2000.
High Court Overturns Government Ban
On Friday, the High Court ruled against the Government's ban after Palestine Action brought a legal challenge. The judgment, delivered by Dame Victoria Sharp alongside Mr Justice Swift and Mrs Justice Steyn, stated that the proscription decision was disproportionate. This ruling could have significant implications for thousands of individuals arrested across the country for supporting the group at various protests.
The ban remains in effect for now, and Shabana Mahmood, Ms Cooper's successor as Home Secretary, has announced plans to appeal the court's decision. Proscription makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
Cooper Cites Public Safety Advice
Appearing on Sky News' Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme, Ms Cooper explained her decision-making process. She emphasised that she followed clear advice and recommendations from the Home Office, involving various agencies and police input. "I was given significant evidence and advice around risks of violence and risks from public safety, and that is what you take seriously," she stated.
Ms Cooper added, "If you ignore advice that you are given about risks to public safety then you're really not taking seriously the responsibilities of home secretary." She noted that the court acknowledged Palestine Action is not a normal protest group and has committed acts of terrorism, diverging from democratic values by promoting violence.
Background of Palestine Action's Activities
According to police records, Palestine Action has undertaken 385 direct actions since 2020 in protest against the situation in Palestine and the actions of the Israeli government. The High Court recognised that a "very small number" of these actions amounted to terrorism. The group's co-founder, Huda Ammori, initiated the legal action against the Home Office following the proscription.
The ban was announced after Palestine Action claimed responsibility for causing an estimated £7 million in damage to military tanker planes at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. In their 46-page ruling, the judges concluded, "At its core, Palestine Action is an organisation that promotes its political cause through criminality and encouragement of criminality."
Political Reactions and Appeals
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel expressed being "appalled" by the High Court ruling, asserting it was "right that it should be appealed". She told Sky News, "I think the public would be absolutely horrified to see that these individuals have been able to essentially get away with the type of activity that they have been able to thus far."
Conversely, a group of 26 Labour MPs and peers, including former minister Lord Peter Hain and senior MP John McDonnell, has written to the Government urging it not to proceed with the appeal. This highlights the divisive nature of the issue within political circles.
