MPs like Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana will NOT be prosecuted for supporting terror group Palestine Action

Daily Mail​

7 hours ago

MPs who voice support for the controversial protest group Palestine Action in the Commons will be shielded from prosecution under terror laws by parliamentary privilege.
Despite officially being branded a terrorist organisation, MPs like Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana will be able to openly back the group from the safety of the chamber.
And they will not face the same legal consequences that would apply to any ordinary Briton making similar comments in public or online, The Times reports.
The parliamentary loophole means that MPs can champion or even encourage Palestine Action, despite the fact that anyone else doing so outside Parliament could face up to 14 years behind bars.
It comes after a damning vote in the Commons saw MPs move to proscribe Palestine Action - placing it alongside terror groups including Hamas, al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
But 26 MPs voted against the move, including nine from Labour 's Left, such as Dianna Abbott, Clive Lewis and Richard Burgon - all of whom served under Jeremy Corbyn.
The ban was backed overwhelmingly by 385 votes to 26, with the House of Lords also giving its seal of approval.
A limp attempt by a Green peer to derail the decision failed miserably, rejected by 144 to 16.
But despite the crackdown, Commons officials confirmed that MPs who speak in support of Palestine Action during official proceedings - including debates, questions, or committees - cannot be prosecuted thanks to parliamentary privilege.
Parliamentary privilege is a centuries-old protection originally designed to safeguard democracy.
The controversy comes just days after two military planes were vandalised at RAF Brize Norton, with the damage – claimed by Palestine Action – running to a staggering £7 million.
Four suspects have since been charged by counter-terrorism police.
Amy Gardiner-Gibson, 29, and Jony Cink, 24, both of no fixed abode, along with the north London duo of Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, 36, of Barnet, and Lewis Chiaramello, 22, of Cricklewood, appeared at Westminster magistrates' court.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it submitted 'that these offences have a terrorist connection'.
The defendants, who held hands and smiled as they entered the dock, spoke only to confirm their names. They also made peace signs, blew kisses and waved at supporters in the public gallery.
Yet, under House Rules, any MP can still praise the group's actions without fear, as long as they do so within the parliamentary estate.
Guidance for MPs states: 'This allows you to speak up on behalf of constituents, express an opinion, or condemn corruption, malpractice or even criminal activity without fear of legal action, as long as you do so in proceedings of the House.
'This protection extends to written proceedings: for example, written and oral questions, motions, early day motions, and amendments tabled to bills and motions.
'Anyone giving evidence to a committee of the House also has this protection, which is a safeguard for witnesses and also ensures that select committees are not obstructed in their inquiries by threats of legal action, or any other kind of threat against witnesses.'
Lord Hanson, a minister at the Home Office, defended the move to remove Palestine Action's 'veil of legitimacy'.
He said: 'I will always defend the right of British people to engage in legitimate and peaceful protest and to stand up for the causes in which they believe.
'But essential as these rights are, they do not provide a blank cheque for this particular group to seriously damage property or subject members of the public to fear and violence.
'We would not tolerate this activity from organisations if they were motivated by Islamist or extreme Right-wing ideology, and therefore I cannot tolerate it from Palestine Action.
'By implementing this measure, we will remove Palestine Action's veil of legitimacy, tackle its financial support, degrade its efforts to recruit and radicalise people into committing terrorist activity in its name.'
But predictably, Jeremy Corbyn hit back, claiming the move would have a 'chilling effect' on protest.
'Surely we should be looking at the issue that Palestine Action are concerned about, and the supply of weapons from this country to Israel, which has made all this possible. If this order goes through it will have a chilling effect on protests,' he said.
Critics argue that MPs should not be allowed to hide behind privilege when speaking in support of groups associated with criminal damage and intimidation.
But unless rules are changed, those very same MPs can continue to air their views without consequence, while members of the public could be jailed for saying far less.
It comes after p ro-Palestine MP Zarah Sultana announced she has quit Labour to join forces with Jeremy Corbyn in creating a new left-wing party.
Former opposition leader Corbyn claimed yesterday there was a 'thirst' among voters 'for an alternative view to be put' forward - and did not rule out leading it at the age of 76.
He has now been boosted by the arrival of Sultana, who has sat in the Commons as an independent MP since she had the Labour whip withdrawn last year.
In response to the Sultana's shock move, Corbyn's former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: 'The people running Labour at the moment need to ask themselves why a young, articulate, talented, extremely dedicated socialist feels she now has no home in the Labour Party and has to leave.'