A senior government minister has forcefully rejected claims that the state is attempting to 'break the bodies' of Palestine Action activists who are on a prolonged hunger strike while on remand.
Minister Rejects Allegations in Commons Debate
The Commons Leader, Sir Alan Campbell, addressed the issue during Thursday's Christmas adjournment debate. He was responding to concerns raised by Adnan Hussain, the independent MP for Blackburn, who stated that remand 'is not meant to break bodies or silence dissent'. Hussain warned that conditions were so severe that 'these young people feel driven to risk death simply to be heard.'
Sir Alan Campbell responded directly, stating the allegation 'couldn't be further from the truth'. He emphasised that the welfare of all prisoners, including those refusing food, was paramount to the prison service and ministers.
Medical Warnings and Political Pressure
The debate followed a stark warning from Dr James Smith, a qualified emergency physician and lecturer at University College London. At a press conference on Thursday, Dr Smith said that some of the hunger-striking prisoners were now dying.
Eight activists are currently on hunger strike, facing charges related to alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of Palestine Action. The group was banned under terrorism legislation in July, a move the activists contest. They deny the charges and demand they be dropped.
By Thursday, two protesters had reached day 47 of their fast, with a third on day 46. A coalition of 51 MPs and peers has written to the Justice Secretary, David Lammy, urging him to meet the prisoners' lawyers.
Government's Stance and Prison Service Experience
Independent MP and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told the Commons the group had not received a 'substantive reply' from the Ministry of Justice. He urged the government to recognise its responsibility for the welfare and medical condition of all prisoners.
Sir Alan Campbell committed to relaying the concerns to the Deputy Prime Minister, hoping to find a 'suitable outcome'. He reiterated that the suggestion the government or prison service was trying to break the hunger strikers was false.
Separately, the Prisons Minister, Lord Timpson, highlighted the system's experience, noting that over the last five years there have been over 200 hunger strike incidents annually on average. He stated that well-established processes were in place, with prisons working alongside NHS partners to manage such protests.
