On 13 February, the High Court ruled that the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group was “disproportionate”. Since then, various politicians including Zarah Sultana have come forwards to voice their support for the ruling. The problem is that many of them didn’t speak up when it counted:
On the vote to proscribe Palestine Action, Liberal Democrat MPs abstained.
Stop gaslighting people.
When it mattered, you didn’t show up. https://t.co/nSd2SHcCWf
— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) February 13, 2026
Suppression
Reporting on the ruling, Maddison Wheeldon wrote for the Canary:
The government’s choice to proscribe Palestine Action has been met by widespread public condemnation both at home and abroad. It has been viewed as an attempt to shut down solidarity that British people have shown with Palestinians through their legal right to protest.
Israel’s ongoing, horrific genocide against Palestine has been met with absolute impunity by Western leaders, resulting in mass protest and civil disobedience across the UK since October 2023. This proscription of direct-action group Palestine Action in the UK has widely been declared as an authoritarian and draconian overreach into the hard-fought civil liberties of British citizens.
Today’s ruling marks a positive step in the right direction.
In the video above, Davey says:
This High Court judgment shows prescribing Palestine action was a grave misuse of terrorism laws. Labour must accept its mistake, drop its appeal and stop wasting taxpayers’ money and suppressing civil liberties. Degrading counter-terror powers is a genuine threat to national security.
Davey isn’t wrong in what he’s saying. The problem is he’s showing he isn’t a leader — he’s a follower. And others have noticed too:
Ed Davey says banning Palestine Action was a grave misuse of terrorism laws.
Every single LibDem MP, including Ed Davey, abstained in the vote to ban them (66 had no vote recorded and 6 abstained by voting both for and against) pic.twitter.com/Y8qmDxO1pg
— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) February 13, 2026
As Richard Burgon noted, only 22 MPs voted against the government:
I welcome the High Court ruling that the ban on Palestine Action is unlawful.
I was one of just 22 MPs who voted against proscribing Palestine Action and in my speech in Parliament I warned the Government of the consequences of its ban.
The Government must not seek an Appeal.
— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) February 13, 2026
Only 22 MPs voted against proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. They should be proud of themselves; the other 628 should be ashamed. pic.twitter.com/Z2507SzhI9
— Karl Hansen (@karl_fh) February 13, 2026
Labour MP Karl Turner at least had the decency to admit that he “bottled it”. Just like with Davey, though, this will come across to many as a face saving exercise:
This is true. I bottled it and voted with the government. But should have stood firm. I told them though. PM and Home Sec. https://t.co/b9rfxasDAN
— Karl Turner MP (@KarlTurnerMP) February 13, 2026
Turner also said that Starmer’s government pushed the ban on the basis that they ‘knew more’ than they could let on (something the court case has ultimately disproven):
Just because it’s this MP or that MP on the left of the party warning the powers that be shouldn’t mean the helpful advice is discounted. @johnmcdonnellMP and many others warned the government at the time and we were just pushed aside as not knowing what they knew.
https://t.co/KopDPl7g1d
— Karl Turner MP (@KarlTurnerMP) February 13, 2026
Draconianism
As we’ve reported, Starmer’s government have been a nightmare when it comes to civil liberties. At this point, it’s clear that Labour will kick the PM out before too long. Let’s hope Starmer’s successor learns from his constant failures.
Featured image via Parliament / Leicester Gazette (Flickr)
By Willem Moore
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