Zarah Sultana restates 'We are all Palestine Action' in parliament
Video of her contribution showed the now-independent MP saying: 'I oppose the blood-soaked hands of this Government trying to silence us. So I say this loudly and proudly on Wednesday 2 July 2025: We are all Palestine Action.'
READ MORE: Brian Leishman loses Labour whip amid 'clear out' of rebel MPs
Hansard, the official record of all statements in the UK Parliament, initially recorded that, before being cut off, Sultana had said: 'So I say this loudly and proudly on Wednesday 2 July 2025: We are all Palestine –'.
It was later edited to report that Sultana had said: 'So I say this loudly and proudly on Wednesday 2 July 2025 –".
It is understood that the edit was made to remove everything after the chair first said "order", which came after a four-minute limit on speeches was reached.
However, speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, Sultana raised concerns about that explanation.
'I seek your guidance regarding the accuracy of the official report in Hansard,' she told the Deputy Speaker.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper led the proscription of Palestine Action'In my speech on Wednesday, 2 July 2025, during the debate on prevention and suppression of terrorism, I said the words and I quote, 'We are all Palestine Action'.
'The video and audio recordings clearly confirmed that the full sentence was spoken before the chair intervened. However, Hansard has omitted the final word of that sentence.
'I have been advised that this is due to a long-standing convention not to report words spoken after the chair intervenes, but in this instance, the record omits words spoken before the chair's intervention.
'I'm also aware of precedents – which I can provide – where members' final words immediately proceeding or overlapping an intervention have been included to preserve the accuracy of the record.
'Despite this, Hansard has not only refused to amend the entry, but has since removed the sentence entirely.
READ MORE: Foreign YouTube stars secretly paid by UK Government for 'propaganda' clips
'This blatant attempt of censorship and rewriting the record is deeply concerning and undermines the integrity of the official report.'
Sultana then asked if there are any 'formal mechanisms to challenge omissions of this kind, reinstate the accurate record, and ensure that Hansard fulfils its duty to provide a full and accurate record of proceedings'.
She was told that Hansard is not the responsibility of the Speaker's office, and that she would have to 'take that up directly with Hansard'.
MP's statements in the Commons are protected by 'absolute privilege' – which ensures full legal immunity for comments made in Parliament. 'Qualified privilege' then allows fair and accurate media reports on Westminster proceedings based on those statements.
An activist in London is carried away by police after allegedly expressing support for Palestine Action (Image: PA) Since the UK Government proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, showing support for or being a member of the group can come with up to 14 years in prison.
Last weekend, 86 people across the UK were arrested for joining in protests organised by Defend Our Juries, which saw them write the message 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action' with black markers on pieces of cardboard.
In Glasgow, a man was charged with a terror offence after wearing a T-shirt which said: 'Genocide in Palestine. Time to take action.'
The words Palestine and Action were in a larger font than the other text. 'Action' was in red, while the rest of the words were in white. At the bottom, the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) website and logo appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Police arrest 13 people at Palestine Action protest in Norwich
Police arrested 13 people at a protest in Norfolk on Saturday on suspicion of showing support for the proscribed group Palestine Action. A group assembled outside City Hall in St Peters Street, Norwich, holding placards referencing the organisation, Norfolk police said. The force said they were arrested on suspicion of displaying an item in support of a proscribed organisation, contrary to section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. It added: 'Five of those arrested have been taken to Wymondham police investigation centre for questioning, where they remain. The remaining eight people were spoken to by officers and provided their details for further investigation. They were therefore de-arrested. 'A 14th person had their sign seized by officers during the protest and provided their details when requested.' Norfolk police superintendent Wes Hornigold said: 'We will always work to facilitate peaceful protest and protect the democratic right to assembly, however the actions of this group were unlawful. 'Our officers' role is to prevent disorder, damage and disruption in the local community and they will use their powers to do this. Any breaches of the law will be dealt with.' The arrests came a day after the Metropolitan police said a further 60 people will be prosecuted for alleged support of Palestine Action. The force said this followed the arrest of more than 700 people since the group was banned on 5 July, including 522 in central London last Saturday. More prosecutions are expected in the coming weeks and arrangements have been put in place 'that will enable us to investigate and prosecute significant numbers each week if necessary', the Met said. The Met last week confirmed the first three charges in England and Wales for offences under the Terrorism Act relating to Palestine Action. On Friday, organisations including Greenpeace and Human Rights Watch wrote to the attorney general for England and Wales arguing that protesters arrested for supporting the organisation should not be prosecuted until a legal challenge to a ban on the group has been heard. [ Palestine Action was proscribed last month by the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, after the group claimed responsibility for damage to jets at RAF Brize Norton and was also linked to allegations of a serious assault on staff and police officers at a business premises in south Gloucestershire.
North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Police make multiple arrests at Norwich protest supporting Palestine Action
The force said a group assembled outside City Hall in St Peters Street holding placards in support of Palestine Action. 'These people were all arrested on suspicion of displaying an item in support of a proscribed organisation, contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000,' Norfolk Police said. 'Five of those arrested have been taken to Wymondham police investigation centre for questioning, where they remain. 'The remaining eight people were spoken to by officers and provided their details for further investigation. 'They were therefore de-arrested. 'A 14th person had their sign seized by officers during the protest and provided their details when requested.' Superintendent Wes Hornigold said: 'We will always work to facilitate peaceful protest and protect the democratic right to assembly, however the actions of this group were unlawful. 'Our officers' role is to prevent disorder, damage and disruption in the local community and they will use their powers to do this. 'Any breaches of the law will be dealt with.' The arrests came a day after the Metropolitan Police said a further 60 people will be prosecuted for support Palestine Action. The force said this followed the arrest of more than 700 people since the group was banned on July 5, including 522 in central London last Saturday. More prosecutions are expected in the coming weeks, and arrangements have been put in place 'that will enable us to investigate and prosecute significant numbers each week if necessary', the Met said. Last week, the Met confirmed the first three charges in England and Wales for offences under the Terrorism Act relating to Palestine Action. The three people charged were arrested at a protest in Parliament Square on July 5. Palestine Action was proscribed in July after the group claimed responsibility for damage to jets at RAF Brize Norton and was also linked to allegations of a serious assault on staff and police officers at a business premises in south Gloucestershire, the force said. Stephen Parkinson, director of public prosecutions, said: 'The public has a democratic right to protest peacefully in this country, and I understand the depth of feeling around the horrific scenes in Gaza. 'However, Palestine Action is now a proscribed terrorist organisation and those who have chosen to break the law will be subject to criminal proceedings under the Terrorism Act. 'When protest conduct crosses the line from lawful activity into criminality, we have a duty to enforce the law. 'People should be clear about the real-life consequences for anyone choosing to support Palestine Action. 'A terrorism conviction can severely impact your life and career – it can restrict your ability to travel overseas and work in certain professions. 'I urge people to think very carefully about their actions at protests. 'Anyone who chooses to disobey the law will have to face the consequences.'
Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Leader Live
Police make multiple arrests at Norwich protest supporting Palestine Action
The force said a group assembled outside City Hall in St Peters Street holding placards in support of Palestine Action. 'These people were all arrested on suspicion of displaying an item in support of a proscribed organisation, contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000,' Norfolk Police said. 'Five of those arrested have been taken to Wymondham police investigation centre for questioning, where they remain. 'The remaining eight people were spoken to by officers and provided their details for further investigation. 'They were therefore de-arrested. 'A 14th person had their sign seized by officers during the protest and provided their details when requested.' Superintendent Wes Hornigold said: 'We will always work to facilitate peaceful protest and protect the democratic right to assembly, however the actions of this group were unlawful. 'Our officers' role is to prevent disorder, damage and disruption in the local community and they will use their powers to do this. 'Any breaches of the law will be dealt with.' The arrests came a day after the Metropolitan Police said a further 60 people will be prosecuted for support Palestine Action. The force said this followed the arrest of more than 700 people since the group was banned on July 5, including 522 in central London last Saturday. More prosecutions are expected in the coming weeks, and arrangements have been put in place 'that will enable us to investigate and prosecute significant numbers each week if necessary', the Met said. Last week, the Met confirmed the first three charges in England and Wales for offences under the Terrorism Act relating to Palestine Action. The three people charged were arrested at a protest in Parliament Square on July 5. Palestine Action was proscribed in July after the group claimed responsibility for damage to jets at RAF Brize Norton and was also linked to allegations of a serious assault on staff and police officers at a business premises in south Gloucestershire, the force said. Stephen Parkinson, director of public prosecutions, said: 'The public has a democratic right to protest peacefully in this country, and I understand the depth of feeling around the horrific scenes in Gaza. 'However, Palestine Action is now a proscribed terrorist organisation and those who have chosen to break the law will be subject to criminal proceedings under the Terrorism Act. 'When protest conduct crosses the line from lawful activity into criminality, we have a duty to enforce the law. 'People should be clear about the real-life consequences for anyone choosing to support Palestine Action. 'A terrorism conviction can severely impact your life and career – it can restrict your ability to travel overseas and work in certain professions. 'I urge people to think very carefully about their actions at protests. 'Anyone who chooses to disobey the law will have to face the consequences.'
