Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the UK’s ban on Palestine Action in Parliament as the group’s co-founder Huda Ammori prepares to challenge the proscription at the UK Supreme Court’s Nov. 4-5, 2026, hearing.
Burnham said Parliament had considered and endorsed the ban, but declined to discuss the case. The official Hansard transcript records him saying, “I will not comment further.”
The Home Office, Britain’s interior ministry, said Palestine Action’s activity met the legal test for proscription. It cited attacks on businesses and defense facilities and said peaceful protest in support of Palestinians would remain protected. The ban took effect July 5, 2025.
Ammori is challenging the government’s decision. The High Court ruled the proscription unlawful, but the Court of Appeal overturned that ruling. The UK Supreme Court granted her permission to appeal on Ground 1 only.
During the parliamentary exchange, MP Claire Hanna asked Burnham to review the ban and raised its effect on freedom of expression, citing Sally Rooney’s publisher. Faber said it stopped supplying Rooney’s books to UK retailers because it could not pay her earnings from UK sales under the ban. EconoTimes previously covered Faber’s decision to halt UK supply and Sarah Helm’s call for the ban to be lifted before the hearing.
Anadolu Agency described the proscription as the first time a direct-action group had been banned under the Terrorism Act in British history. The UK Supreme Court lists the hearing for Nov. 4-5, 2026, and says those dates may change.
