4 Palestine Action members charged over RAF break in
It comes after MPs voted 385 to 26 last night to proscribe the group as a terrorist organisation, despite widespread criticism of the move.
READ MORE: MPs vote in favour of proscribing Palestine Action
The four suspects, aged 22-29, are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later on Thursday.
Counter Terrorism Policing South East said they had been charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage, and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK.
A 41-year-old woman previously arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender was released on bail until 19 September, while another man was released without charge.
In a statement released by the BBC, police said the Crown Prosecution service will argue in court that the alleged offences had a "terrorist connection".
In the vote last night, the SNP and LibDems chose to abstain, whilst 275 Labour MPs and 87 Tory MPs voted in favour of the move.
READ MORE: The 26 MPs who voted against proscribing Palestine Action
Four Green MPs voted against the proscription, alongside six Independents and nine Labour MPs.
The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025 is now expected to be debated and voted on by the House of Lords on Thursday before it becomes law.
If it passes, membership and/or support of the group could carry a jail sentence of up to 14 years.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
16 minutes ago
- The National
Westminster celebrates suffragettes as MPs ban Palestine Action
Female MPs posed for a photograph in Westminster Hall on Wednesday bearing sashes with the colours of the Women's Social and Political Union, a group which used militant tactics including bombing Westminster Abbey in their quest to win votes for women. The photograph featured top politicians including Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Deputy Speaker Caroline Noakes and Home Office Minister Angela Eagle. It came on the same day that Palestine Action was proscribed under the Terrorism Act for their campaign to put pressure on the UK Government and private companies for complicity in Israel's genocide in Gaza. Independent MP Zarah Sultana (below), currently suspended from Labour, posted the picture to social media, saying it was 'Parliament in a nutshell'. (Image: PA) She added: 'Yesterday MPs, including Yvette Cooper, celebrated the suffragette legacy of civil disobedience that won women the right to vote. Only to then vote to designate non-violent direct action group Palestine Action as terrorists. Westminster is broken.' MPs voted to ban Palestine Action by 385 votes to 26, with the Greens, Independent Alliance MPs, and nine Labour MPs voting against. The SNP and the LibDems abstained. READ MORE: Rachel Reeves breaks silence on tears in the House of Commons It means that it will become a criminal offence to express support for or be a member of Palestine Action, carrying a prison sentence of up to 14 years in jail. Wearing clothing which expresses support of the group, such as T-shirts with the group's branding, can result in a six month prison sentence and/or a fine of up to £5000. Others called out MPs for expressing their support for the suffragettes, who were persecuted in their own time for their campaign to win votes for women. Green co-leader Carla Denyer (above) said: 'Today women MPs wore Suffragette sashes to celebrate Votes for Women – won by civil disobedience and celebrated in Parliament's gift shop. 'And yet now the government is asking us to vote to proscribe Palestine Action – a modern civil disobedience group – as terrorists.' Novara Media editor Aaron Bastani added: 'The suffragettes literally blew up David Lloyd George's house, as it was under construction, in Surrey. 'The same politicians now celebrating that think you should get six months in prison for wearing a Palestine Action t-shirt.'
Powys County Times
31 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Starmer vows to press on with welfare reform as he takes blame for U-turn
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted welfare reform is still on the table as he took the blame for Tuesday's U-turn in the face of a major backbench rebellion. In an interview with the BBC, the Prime Minister acknowledged his Government did not 'get the process right' and failed to 'engage in the way that we should have done' on welfare changes. But he added his Government would 'come through it stronger' as he vowed to 'reflect' on what needed to be done 'to ensure we don't get into a situation like that again'. Despite the setback, which saw changes to the personal independence payment (Pip) stripped out of his welfare legislation, Sir Keir said on Thursday his Government was 'pressing on with welfare reform'. Answering questions at the launch of Labour's NHS plan, he said: 'It is important we reform the system. Welfare isn't working.' The Prime Minister went on to praise disabilities minister Sir Stephen Timms, who is now leading a review of Pip, saying he was 'a thoroughly decent man of huge integrity that we can have faith in to do the review and make the changes that are necessary'. Sir Keir's U-turn saw planned changes to Pip eligibility put off until after Sir Stephen has completed his review of the benefit next autumn, leaving only changes to universal credit to go forward. That decision has caused a fiscal headache for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, with the £4.8 billion of savings the reforms were expected to deliver now unlikely to materialise. Economists have warned that this is likely to mean further tax rises in the autumn, and the Prime Minister did not rule out the possibility on Thursday. Ms Reeves has previously promised she would not need to repeat the £40 billion tax raid she set out in October 2024. Asked if he would repeat that commitment, Sir Keir said: 'No prime minister or chancellor is going to write a budget in advance, but we did really tough stuff in that budget last year.' But he added that last year's budget had already done much of the 'heavy lifting' on repairing the public finances. The Chancellor also declined to 'speculate' about tax rises ahead of the budget, but told broadcasters there was 'a cost to the welfare changes that Parliament voted through this week and that will be reflected in the budget'. Ms Reeves herself appeared alongside Sir Keir and Health Secretary Wes Streeting at the launch of the NHS plan on Thursday, a day after she had appeared visibly tearful in the Commons during Prime Minister's Questions. The Chancellor told broadcasters it had been related to a 'personal issue', while Sir Keir gave her his full backing, adding: 'I think it's just fantastic she's here and, as I say, none of this would be happening if she hadn't taken the decisions that she's taken.' Questions about the Chancellor's future had sparked a sharp fall in the value of UK government bonds on Wednesday, but the markets rallied on Thursday morning following repeated reassurances she was safe in Number 11.
The Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Sun
Benefits reforms would decimate my £14k handouts, without PIP my luxuries like fags & posh pet accessories would be gone
A SENSE of ease comes over me, as I read the news on the sun-trap terrace which overlooks my sprawling garden as I realise my benefits aren't going anywhere. Until Tuesday a guillotine was hanging above me, threatening to cut off my monthly PIP payments, but thanks to a retreat from Keir Starmer they're safe… for now. 5 5 Reforms would have seen disabled Brits like me face stricter tests to qualify for support the changes have now been shelved entirely — with no set date for when, or if, they will happen How long my comfortable life will last remains to be seen as it seems my £14,400 income from Universal Credit and PIP are always up for grabs, no matter the party in power. I've come to see the majority of political parties as the real thugs. Whoever is in power, you can guarantee they'll have threatened - or have already implemented - major cuts to my income. Had Labour's suggested cuts come into play I may have lost £600 of the total sum of £1200 I receive in benefits a month. It might seem like a lot but I implore you to bear in mind that minimum wages, full-time, meets £2,000 a month. So, my total benefits aren't exactly a footballer's salary or an heir's trust fund. For Universal Credit, I now get £381 housing benefit; £201 for caring over 24 hours a week and £400 for being unemployed due to my schizophrenia (it seems to change month-by-month and is constantly under review meaning this could also be up for grabs). PIP is a standard, monthly payment of £295 I always get. It helps with costs associated with my illness - regardless of whether or not I'm in work. The proposal of a points system for PIP meant I would lose it completely as I only score 2 points for a few concerns over 12 questions (in total mine was 11 points). For example: communication can be hard in groups and I often fall out with friends and family - especially on the internet, phone or Whatsapp. Disability benefit explained - what you can claim Or I might need prompting for my weekly bath, simply because I'm getting smelly. These side effects all only score 2 points, not the proposed 4 to keep PIP. This week Reeve's plans were watered down by Starmer, thanks to some more moral Labour backbenchers (with backbones?) Given the hateful responses I receive when I speak publicly about claiming benefits, I doubt I've heard the last of any of our 'disability benefits being axed.' As I casually scroll through the comments I received on social media, I get more angry faces and hateful comments than murderers, child killers and rapists. I have to disagree with all of them and believe I - we - deserve support from the state for a severe mental illness, mine is schizo-affective disorder, and for putting in 50 hours a week caring for my partner, a wheelchair user. I also believe without the cost of children, I should be able to spend my stipend on little luxuries like my 60 fags a day habit and hand-painted cat food bowls which I imported for £75 from India. I'm aware that many countries' welfare states don't exist, like India where my cat bowls hail from, so I'm still grateful for any support I do receive. What is PIP? HOUSEHOLDS suffering from a long-term illness, disability or mental health condition can get extra help through personal independence payments (PIP). The maximum you can receive from the Government benefit is £172.75 a week. PIP is for those over 16 and under the state pension age, currently 66. Crucially, you must also have a health condition or disability where you either have had difficulties with daily living or getting around - or both- for three months, and you expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months (unless you're terminally ill with less than 12 months to live). You can also claim PIP if you're in or out of work and if you're already getting limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) payments if you claim Universal Credit. PIP is made up of two parts and whether you get one or both of these depends on how severely your condition affects you. You may get the mobility part of PIP if you need help going out or moving around. The weekly rate for this is either £26.90 or £71. While on the daily living part of PIP, the weekly rate is either £68.10 or £101.75 - and you could get both elements, so up to £172.75 in total. You can claim PIP at the same time as other benefits, except the armed forces independence payment. Make a claim by calling the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 0800 917 2222. 5 5 It's not just trolls saying I'm a 'leech' or 'scrounger' who I face criticism from though - even doctors can't agree on what schizophrenia is and many naysayers even go as far as to say "it's only in the mind & there's nothing wrong at all" or that it's just a 'human response to traumatic life events'. But what they don't factor in is the major physical toll my mental health takes on my body. I'd like to offer these negative Nellys a day's worth of my medication and see how they get on. My boyfriend Paul was mostly in bed asleep for three days after just one dose he mistook for a paracetamol which I've taken three times a day for over two decades. This tiredness is real. Paranoia is real, it's hard to be around more than one person when you're trying to read code behind everyone's speech (a typical schizo-spectrum symptom known as 'thought broadcasting'). The poor personal hygiene is real, I might only bathe once a week. My anxiety is crippling, too, but I've learned to put on a brave face and try to remain calm and positive. Still, even a brave face doesn't erase a churning stomach. But Reeve's 'four point' system didn't take these things into account. You may well have needed to prove that you have an actual carer come in to wash your bottom twice a day to get 4 points on PIP benefits. WHAT WERE THE PROPOSED CHANGED TO PIP? DISABLED Brits would have faced stricter tests to qualify for support under the original benefits crackdown. They would have needed to score at least four points in one activity like washing, dressing, or preparing food. Currently, people can qualify by scoring eight points across multiple tasks, making it easier to access the benefit. Last week, Labour agreed to limit the crackdown to new claimants only after a backlash from MPs. But under the latest retreat, the changes have now been shelved entirely — with no set date for when, or if, they will happen. Sir Keir Starmer suffered a major rebellion this week by 49 of his own MPs tonight as his welfare reforms scraped through after another round of last-minute concessions. But after more fury from the backbenches, he shelved controversial disability benefit reforms to stave off a Labour revolt. Ministers have now scrapped plans to tighten rules for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) after furious backbenchers warned they would sink the controversial Bill. In the end, MPs voted the legislation through by a majority of 75, with 335 in favour and 260 against. Any proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments now won't kick in until after a review has taken place. The PIP benefits - the main disability welfare payment for those with a disability - is subject to a review by Welfare Minister Sir Stephen Timms. The benefit payments are in place to help those affected with daily tasks such as mobility. Payments currently start at £1,500 but rise to £9,600 which are paid out even if someone is still working. The daily living rate comes in at £73.90 for the lower rate and £110.40 for the higher rate. Figures show that the mobility rate is worth £29.20 and rises to £77.05 for the higher rate. Ministers have revealed that 1,000 people per day are claiming PIP - which is the equivalent of the size of Leicester every year. Following a major rebellion, those who are now claiming PIP be able to claim the same amount of money. But for new claimants from November 2026, there will be a set of stricter measures set out as the government aims to reduce spending on the benefits and get people back to work. Never mind reeking too much to leave the house and be in public - let alone in an office. This idea that work might make us better - which Reeves drove home and used to justify her cruel cuts - felt like gaslighting. 'We believe if you can work, you should work.' she stated. But PIP is a benefit you can also claim while working. Like me, many need their benefits - both PIP and Universal Credit - to 'top-up' part-time work wages and that allows them to manage their disability, to care for a loved one, or both. For ten years in my twenties I worked two-three jobs to make ends meet. I always ended up on the mental health crisis phoneline, with a duty nurse telling me I needed to take substantial time off or quit my job. Eventually I quit working full-time for good, and my mental health has improved markedly. I now care full-time and put in 10-16 hours of writing a week. I know first hand, poverty doesn't cure mental illness (or any disability) - it exasperates them, and only makes them worse - putting even more strain on an already underfunded NHS. Therefore any kind of cuts to disability benefits, particularly those that penalise people with mental health issues will only cost us more in the long run, both in budgets and lives. And while I appreciate that reforms may be on hold for now I dread to think what could come out in Sir Stephen Timms' PIP review at the end of 2026. But I beg Labour not to cast people like me aside. We're not scroungers and for us PIP is a lifeline. 5
