Yvette Cooper has today robustly defended her controversial decision to designate Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, insisting it was categorically 'not a normal protest group'. This defence comes despite a significant High Court ruling on Friday that declared her original decision, made during her tenure as Home Secretary, to be unlawful. The judgment carries profound implications for thousands of individuals who have been arrested across the country for showing support for the group at various protests.
Legal Battle and Police Response
The ban on Palestine Action remains formally in place as the government prepares to launch an appeal against the High Court's decision. However, in a notable development, the Metropolitan Police has indicated that its officers are unlikely to arrest people simply for expressing support for Palestine Action until the legal situation is fully clarified and resolved. This interim stance reflects the complex and evolving nature of the case.
Political Reactions and Internal Pressure
Following the court's ruling, the current Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has vowed to 'fight this judgment in the Court of Appeal', signalling the government's intent to challenge the decision vigorously. Nonetheless, this position faces internal opposition, as a group of Labour backbenchers has urged Mahmood to drop the appeal action, highlighting divisions within the party over the approach to the pro-Palestinian group.
Court's Detailed Ruling
In a comprehensive 46-page ruling delivered on Friday, Dame Victoria Sharp, presiding over the case, stated that Ms Cooper's prescription of Palestine Action was 'disproportionate'. The ruling acknowledged that while Palestine Action 'promotes its political cause through criminality and encouragement of criminality', only a very small number of its actions have actually amounted to terrorist action. This nuanced assessment formed the core of the court's finding of unlawfulness.
Cooper's Justification
Yvette Cooper, who has since transitioned to the role of Foreign Secretary, addressed the media today via Sky News. She asserted, 'I followed the clear advice and recommendations going through a serious process the Home Office goes through … which was very clear about the recommendation about prescription of this group.' She further emphasised that the court itself concluded this is not a normal protest group, noting it found that the group had committed actions of terrorism, was not aligned with democratic values, and had promoted violence.
The High Court's ruling explicitly stated that the decision Yvette Cooper made as Home Secretary was unlawful, directly impacting the legal status of thousands arrested for supporting the group. As the government gears up for an appeal, the debate over balancing national security with protest rights continues to intensify, with significant political and legal ramifications at stake.
