Palestine Action: 50+ Arrested at Labour Conference
More than 50 people were arrested during a Palestine Action protest outside the UK Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool, according to Merseyside Police. The arrests took place on Sunday, September 27, as demonstrators gathered outside the conference venue to oppose the UK government’s proscription of the group. MMerseyside Police+1
The demonstration was organised by Defend Our Juries, a campaign group that has staged protests against the government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action. More than 250 people reportedly gathered outside the conference centre, with some displaying signs expressing support for the organisation. AAl Jazeera
Police said those arrested were suspected of offences involving the display or carrying of material supporting a proscribed organisation. The force said it respected the right to lawful protest while also seeking to maintain public safety and order. MMerseyside Police
The incident has renewed debate in Britain over the boundary between freedom of expression, protest rights and laws governing support for proscribed organisations.
What Happened at the Labour Conference?
The protest took place near The Wheel of Liverpool, close to the Liverpool venue hosting the Labour Party conference.
According to Al Jazeera, demonstrators held banners supporting Palestine Action before police began making arrests. Officers asked some protesters whether they intended to continue displaying the signs before taking them into custody under the Terrorism Act. AAl Jazeera
Merseyside Police confirmed that more than 50 people had been arrested by Sunday evening. The force described the event as a Defend Our Juries protest and said some participants had displayed material supporting Palestine Action. MMerseyside Police
The police statement did not say that every person attending the demonstration had committed an offence.
Instead, the force said officers were making arrests on suspicion of an offence involving an article supporting a proscribed organisation. Police also said their approach had been planned in advance and was intended to be applied consistently and proportionately. MMerseyside Police
The distinction is important because simply attending a protest is not necessarily the same as committing an offence.
Why Were Palestine Action Supporters Arrested?
The arrests relate to the legal status of Palestine Action in the United Kingdom.
The British government announced in July 2025 that it intended to proscribe Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000. The government said the decision followed what it described as serious criminal activity and attacks involving significant property damage. GGOV.UK
The proscription came into force on July 5, 2025.
Under the relevant legislation, membership of a proscribed organisation and certain forms of support for such an organisation can constitute criminal offences. The government said at the time that the maximum penalty for relevant offences could reach 14 years in prison. GGOV.UK+1
The government has also maintained that the proscription does not prevent people from supporting Palestinian rights or protesting against Israeli government policy. Its stated position is that the decision was based on Palestine Action’s activities rather than opposition to Palestinian causes. GGOV.UK
That distinction has become central to the continuing political and legal dispute.
What Is Palestine Action?
Palestine Action is a British activist group known for direct-action campaigns targeting companies and facilities that activists associate with Israel’s defence industry.
The group has carried out actions at facilities connected to companies including Elbit Systems and other defence-related businesses. The British government cited several incidents when announcing its decision to proscribe the organisation in 2025. GGOV.UK
Among the incidents cited by the government was an attack at RAF Brize Norton in June 2025, where activists entered the military base and damaged aircraft with red paint. The government subsequently argued that the organisation’s activities met the legal threshold for proscription under the Terrorism Act. GGOV.UK
Palestine Action and its supporters have disputed the government’s characterization of the organisation and its activities.
The group’s supporters have argued that direct action against companies connected to arms production should be treated differently from terrorism offences and have challenged the government’s decision through legal and political campaigns.
The Legal Battle Over the Ban
The legality of the Palestine Action proscription has already been considered by the courts.
In February 2026, the High Court ruled that the government’s decision to proscribe the organisation was unlawful and disproportionate. The government appealed that judgment. AAl Jazeera
The Court of Appeal subsequently considered the case in June.
The court record identifies the case as Home Secretary v Huda Ammori, with Amnesty International UK, Liberty and a United Nations special rapporteur participating as interveners. CCourts and Tribunals Judiciary
Al Jazeera reported that the Court of Appeal ultimately ruled in favour of the government’s position on the proscription. The decision meant that the ban remained in force. AAl Jazeera
The continuing legal dispute demonstrates why the Liverpool arrests have broader significance beyond the individual protesters involved.
The question is not simply whether people can demonstrate in support of Palestinian rights. It also concerns how UK law treats public expressions of support for an organisation that has been formally proscribed.
Protesters Challenge the Government’s Position
Defend Our Juries organised the Liverpool demonstration as part of a wider campaign against the proscription.
The campaign group has argued that people should be able to publicly express support for Palestine Action and challenge the government’s decision without facing arrest simply for displaying a placard.
Following the arrests, Amnesty International UK also criticised the police action. Its chief executive, Kerry Moscogiuri, described the arrests as a serious concern for freedom of expression. NNewsCord
Those comments represent the position of Amnesty International and should be distinguished from the official position of the UK government and police.
The government, meanwhile, maintains that the proscription was based on Palestine Action’s activities and that peaceful protest concerning Palestine remains lawful. GGOV.UK
Police Say Lawful Protest Remains Protected
Merseyside Police has emphasised that it recognises the right to protest.
In its statement about the Liverpool arrests, the force said it respected people’s rights to protest lawfully while working to maintain public order and protect the public. MMerseyside Police
That statement is significant because the arrests occurred at a political party conference, where demonstrations and political expression are expected to attract substantial public attention.
The force said it had prepared detailed plans for the conference and would apply its policing approach consistently, fairly and proportionately. MMerseyside Police
The Labour Party conference itself runs from September 26 to September 30, 2026, at the Liverpool Experience Campus. Merseyside Police has been involved in security arrangements for the event. MMerseyside Police
Arrests Have Continued Since the Proscription
The Liverpool arrests form part of a much larger pattern.
Official UK government statistics covering the year ending March 31, 2026 recorded 2,819 arrests linked to supporting Palestine Action following the group’s proscription in July 2025. Of those arrests, 484 resulted in charges, while 2,287 people were bailed or released under investigation. GGOV.UK
The statistics provide an important distinction between arrests and convictions.
An arrest means police suspect that an offence has occurred. It does not by itself establish guilt.
The official figures also show that many people arrested in connection with support for Palestine Action had not been charged by the time covered by the statistics. GGOV.UK
That context is relevant when interpreting reports of large numbers of arrests connected with the group.
A Wider Debate About Freedom of Expression
The dispute over Palestine Action has become part of a broader debate in Britain about protest law.
Supporters of the proscription argue that governments need legal powers to respond when organisations engage in serious criminal activity or threaten public safety.
Opponents argue that terrorism legislation should not be used to restrict political expression or peaceful protest, particularly where demonstrations involve no violence.
The courts have been asked to consider both sides of that legal question.
The Court of Appeal proceedings involved not only the Home Secretary and Huda Ammori, but also interventions from Amnesty International UK, Liberty and a UN special rapporteur. CCourts and Tribunals Judiciary
The involvement of multiple parties reflects the wider implications of the case for freedom of expression and association.
Protest at the Labour Conference Puts the Issue in the Spotlight
The timing of the Liverpool demonstration has also increased its political visibility.
The protest took place as Labour delegates gathered for the party’s annual conference. Demonstrators used the event to draw attention to the Palestine Action ban and the wider Israel-Palestine conflict. AAl Jazeera
At the same time, the arrests placed the government’s approach to protest and proscription directly outside a major political gathering.
Al Jazeera reported that Massive Attack singer Robert Del Naja was among those arrested. AAl Jazeera
The arrests therefore involved not only campaign activists but also individuals with public profiles, further increasing media attention around the demonstration.
What Happens Next?
The legal status of Palestine Action remains an important factor in future protests.
As long as the proscription remains in force, people who publicly support the organisation may face legal consequences under the Terrorism Act depending on their conduct.
The government continues to defend the proscription, while campaign groups continue to challenge it.
The Liverpool demonstration illustrates how the issue has moved beyond a dispute over one organisation. It now involves competing questions about national security, criminal damage, political expression and the limits of protest.
For observers, one of the key facts is that the legal framework remains active while the political debate continues.
Palestine Action Protest: Key Facts
- Location: Liverpool, England.
- Date of protest: September 27, 2026.
- Event: UK Labour Party annual conference.
- Organiser: Defend Our Juries.
- Attendance: More than 250 protesters were reported at the demonstration.
- Arrests: Merseyside Police said more than 50 people had been arrested as of Sunday evening. AAl Jazeera+1
- Reason cited by police: Suspected offences involving material supporting a proscribed organisation. MMerseyside Police
- Palestine Action’s legal status: Proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000 since July 5, 2025. PProtectUK
- Government position: The proscription was based on the government’s assessment of the organisation’s activities and alleged serious criminal damage. GGOV.UK
- Court proceedings: The proscription has been challenged in the courts, with the Court of Appeal considering the government’s appeal in June 2026. CCourts and Tribunals Judiciary+1
Conclusion
The arrests outside the Labour Party conference have brought the Palestine Action dispute back into national attention.
Merseyside Police says more than 50 people were arrested after displaying material supporting the proscribed organisation. The force says it continues to respect lawful protest while enforcing the Terrorism Act. MMerseyside Police
The protesters and organisations supporting them argue that the arrests raise fundamental questions about freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate.
The UK government, meanwhile, maintains that Palestine Action’s activities justified proscription and that the ban does not prevent people from supporting Palestinian rights or protesting against Israeli government policy. GGOV.UK
The courts have already considered the legality of the government’s decision, while the political debate continues.
The Liverpool arrests therefore represent the latest episode in an ongoing dispute over where Britain draws the line between political protest, public expression and laws governing support for proscribed organisations.
Image Recommendation
Use a licensed current photograph from the September 27, 2026 Liverpool protest, preferably the AFP image credited by Al Jazeera to Oli Scarff. Do not reuse the 2025 Getty images surfaced by image search as if they depict the 2026 event.
Recommended ALT: Palestine Action protesters arrested outside Labour Party conference in Liverpool
Credible External Sources
- Al Jazeera — Palestine Action protesters arrested outside UK Labour Party conference
- Merseyside Police — Arrests at protest in Liverpool
- UK Government — Palestine Action proscription announcement
- UK Judiciary — Home Secretary v Huda Ammori
- UK Government — Terrorism Act arrest statistics
Internal links: Add relevant URLs from your own domain for articles about UK politics, Labour Party, Gaza, Palestine, UK protest laws, or terrorism legislation. No domain was supplied, so I have not invented internal links.
