 "'Cut the hate': UK ministers want ban on MPs, councillors engaging with pro-Palestine protesters")
In Britain, MPs and councillors may face a ban for interacting with groups behind the pro-Palestine marches.
The plans, put forward by government’s adviser on political violence and former Labour MP, John Woodcock, say mainstream political leaders will be required to tell their representatives to employ a “zero-tolerance approach” to groups using disruptive tactics and have failed to restrict “hate” on marches.
Woodcock said MPs and councillors should also sever ties with eco-zealots like Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil who use “illegal” tactics, he said.
The proposals have been now been sent to PM Rishi Sunak and home secretary James Cleverly for considering banning lawmakers and instructing them not to engage with groups including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil.
UK seeing rise in mass protests
Mass protests over the Israel-Hamas war have escalated across the UK. Ministers have been staunchly criticising them and also have condemned disruptive tactics used by groups such as Just Stop Oil.
The PSC has organised protests against the Gaza war across the UK. However, these agitations have been marred by anti-Jew hate and chants of “from the river to the sea” - which can be seen as genocidal by calling for Israel to be wiped out.
It is also being said hardline environment groups - Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil - may also use the opportunity to create illegal disruption to get noticed as well as get their way.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsWhat does the proposal says?
Woodcock, whose formal title is Lord Walney, in his review on political violence which will be formally be submitted to Sunak and Cleverly, “asked the leader of every mainstream political party to take a zero-tolerance approach to the menace that is threatening our democracy.”
“It is not on to cause mayhem on our streets and menace elected representatives here in the UK so they live in fear," Walney said.
“But we need action on this thuggery that threatens to undermine our proud democracy, not just words,” he said.
“So Rishi and Keir [Starmer] should instruct their MPs and councillors not to engage with anyone from the PSC until they get their house in order and cut the hate from their marches,” an article in the Sun of Sunday quoted Walney as saying.
Walney’s call is one of a series of recommendations contained in his report on tackling political violence in Britain, which is being passed to Sunak.
Why ban on UK PMs, councillors is being considered?
As per The Guardian report, several sitting Labour MPs, including the former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Richard Burgon, Apsana Begum (MP for Poplar and Limehouse), Beth Winter and Afzal Khan, have attended PSC events.
Despite strong demands from Tories, Labour has refused to suspend MPs who have attended events because PSC is not a proscribed organisation.
Meanwhile, Tories have already engaged in talks with Extinction Rebellion, including the levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, whose department is working on the definition of extremism as part of its brief.
The Observer earlier reported that discussions were underway to broaden the new definition to include groups whose actions “undermine” the UK’s institutions.
Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, said MPs needed to take care with regard to their associations with individuals or organisations.
“But I do think it is important to stress that the right to protest is an important fundamental right in our democracy,” she said.
“That does mean that people will take part in marches or protests where politicians might not agree. But that is part of our democracy and that is really precious," Phillipson told BBC.
Pleased to see shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson suggest @UKLabour open to my recommendation for MPs and councillors not to engage with groups like the Palestine Solidarity Campaign who allow intimidation of MPs. She right to suggest right to protest remains vital. pic.twitter.com/iRUzvMZJT5
— Lord Walney (@LordWalney) March 3, 2024
Meanwhile, Starmer has already been under pressure to giving more freedom to Labour representatives to condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza.
As per The Guardian report, many within Labour believe that there has been anger among Muslims over Labour party’s position on Israel.
“We talk about Rishi’s cowardice and how long it took him to come out and stop the messages of hate that have been spewing from the likes of Lee Anderson and Suella Braverman,” the report quoted a shadow frontbencher who was asked whether the Labour leadership had gone far enough in dispelling false narratives on pro-Palestine marches.
“But what’s the difference between what Labour has said and what the Tories have said on these protests? We can’t allow pro-Palestinian protesters to be dehumanised as a Labour party.”
Another shadow frontbencher said: “The anger we have seen is about the extreme asymmetry of this war. A totally dominant force against a relatively under armed opponent.
“People are disgusted by the October attacks but my frustration is that for years, we, Labour, haven’t given the situation in Gaza the attention it deserved. The leadership needs to fix this ASAP.”
Last week, the organisers of pro-Palestinian protestors in central London and the civil liberties group Liberty accused the government and MPs of seeking to curtail protest rights on false pretences and by focusing on a “hysteria” generated around the demonstrations.
Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Ben Jamal, said while they do not support protests outside MPs’ homes, a “narrative” that Islamist extremists were seeking to intimidate and harass MPs was being used to argue that the new laws were needed to restrict the right to protest.
Last Tuesday, Cleverly announced £31m in government funding for measures to protect MPs, including private bodyguards to provide round-the-clock protection for those at highest risk and security guards to be deployed at constituency events held by MPs.
Minority of UK public hold anti-Muslim sentiments
Amid this, a poll from More in Common commissioned by the Together Coalition found a significant minority of the public hold anti-Muslim sentiments after a week of anti-Muslim comments by senior politicians made headlines.
The research found that 21 per cent of Britons held negative views about Muslims, higher than any other ethnic group apart from Travellers.
The survey also found 9 per cent of Britons had negative attitudes towards Jews, 8 per cent towards Black African/Caribbean people and 7 per cent towards Christians.
A clear majority of 59 per cent of those polled said it was possible to be British and Muslim.
With inputs from agencies
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