Home Office minister Dan Jarvis waved away calls from the LibDems to “urgently” review the Terrorism Act after police arrested 857 people in London on Saturday for expressing support for the banned group.
The LibDems called for a review of the Terrorism Act, which criminalises speech which is “reckless” as to the risk it may be interpreted as inviting support for banned groups, which critics have said has a chilling effect on free speech.
Lisa Smart, the LibDems’ home affairs spokesperson, said: “It cannot be right that simply displaying a placard in support of a proscribed organisation while peacefully protesting can result in a conviction and up to six months in prison.
“Will the minister urgently review terrorism legislation, specifically as it is impacting the right to protest peacefully to ensure it is proportionate and contains the nuance it so clearly needs?”
Jarvis (above) replied: “I don’t agree that the events of this weekend have had a chilling effect on democracy.”
He said that Smart’s point about reviewing terrorism laws was “reasonable”, adding: “Of course, we look very carefully at legislation but the Government doesn’t currently have any plans amend the existing legislation not least of in light of ongoing criminal proceedings relating to Palestine Action and the ongoing judicial review, it would not be appropriate to carry out a review at this time.”
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Later, Patricia Ferguson, chair of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee, told the Commons that many people protesting against the proscription of the group under terror laws “would not for a moment support the activities of Palestine Action”.
Ferguson (below) said: “I wonder if [the minister] would agree with me that the continued mass arrests of peaceful protesters, many of whom are protesting about the proscription of Palestine Action but would not for a moment support the activities of Palestine Action is something that we should distinguish and something that we should be advising prosecutors and the police about.
“Not least because the furore around these arrests risks drowning out the rightful protests about the difficult situation in Palestine and Gaza that he himself has referred to.”
Jarvis replied: “I think [Ferguson] does raise really important points. I mean, for clarity, it’s an offence to display support for Palestine Action but it’s not an offence to criticise the Government’s decision to proscribe.
“Some difficult judgments often have to be made by the police on the ground but let me give her a categorical assurance that this Government will do absolutely nothing to get in the way of somebody’s absolute right to protest about a matter about which they are concerned.
“And in many respects, I think it was incredibly heartening to see tens of thousands of people take to the streets, express their concern but do it in an entirely peaceful and lawful way.”
SNP deputy Westminster leader Pete Wishart contrasted the “much more conciliatory” approach of Police Scotland to that of the Met in London.
In Scotland there were only two arrests connected with a Palestine Action protest in Edinburgh.
However, those arrests did not come without criticism, with Amnesty International saying that they were “not justified” and the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign accusing Police Scotland of an “overreach of power”.
