# Labour MPs’ DESPERATE Defence of Palestine Action Proscription

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WspjUcD1sR4
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/WspjUcD1sR4
Generated: 2025-08-14T12:02:47.105+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Labour MPs are reportedly starting to doubt the wisdom of proscribing "Palestine Action," with former cabinet member Peter Hain suggesting the government is "digging itself into a hole" and that the ban is based on "misinformation" and "shite." Hain argues that the group's actions, primarily minor property damage like graffiti and vandalism, do not constitute terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000, which requires "serious damage to property" or actual violence. Meanwhile, another Labour MP, Stella Creasy, also criticizes the ban, highlighting that her own research and the government's own reports indicate that "Palestine Action" has not engaged in violence against individuals or pre-meditated harm, making the proscription politically motivated and factually unsupported.

**Key Points:**
- Former Labour cabinet minister Peter Hain criticizes the UK government's proscription of "Palestine Action," calling it a "desperate" move and suggesting the government is "digging itself into a hole."
- Hain argues that the ban is based on "misinformation" and "shite," asserting that "Palestine Action's" activities, such as graffiti and vandalism, do not constitute terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000, which requires "serious damage to property" or actual violence.
- Labour MP Stella Creasy also questions the proscription, stating that her own research and government reports indicate the group has not engaged in violence against individuals, and the evidence presented for the ban was primarily related to property damage.
- Creasy highlights that the proscription is "politically motivated" and not based on the evidence, suggesting that the government has selectively applied anti-terrorism laws.
- A Guardian report cited suggests that banning "Palestine Action" would be "relatively novel" as there's no known precedent for proscribing an organization solely based on "use or threat of action involving serious damage to property." 
- The report further indicates that the proscription justification was based on property damage, not violence against people, and that the group has never called for or engaged in terrorism.
- Creasy implies that MPs who supported the ban may come to regret it, as the evidence does not support classifying "Palestine Action" as a terrorist organization.

![Screenshot at 00:12: Headline from The Guardian stating "Peter Hain says UK government 'digging itself into hole' over Palestine Action"](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WspjUcD1sR4/00-00-12.png)

**Context:** The video discusses a political controversy surrounding the UK government's decision to proscribe "Palestine Action," a group involved in pro-Palestinian activism. The proscription has drawn criticism from within the Labour Party, with prominent figures like former cabinet minister Peter Hain and MP Stella Creasy expressing doubts about the justification and legality of the ban. The discussion revolves around whether the group's actions meet the legal definition of terrorism and the political motivations behind the government's decision.

## Detailed Analysis

The video discusses a growing internal dissent within the Labour party regarding the UK government's decision to proscribe "Palestine Action." Former cabinet minister Peter Hain criticizes the government's move, stating they are "digging themselves into a hole" and that the proscription is based on "misinformation" and "shite." Hain points out that the Terrorism Act 2000, under which the group was banned, typically requires "serious damage to property" or actual violence, neither of which he claims "Palestine Action" has demonstrably engaged in. He highlights that the group's actions, such as graffiti and vandalism, are generally minor property damage.  Similarly, Labour MP Stella Creasy expresses her disagreement with the ban, citing her own investigation and government reports. She argues that the evidence presented to the court for the proscription was based on property damage and that the group's actions do not meet the threshold for terrorism. Creasy criticizes the government for misrepresenting the group's activities, suggesting the ban is politically motivated rather than based on genuine security concerns. She contrasts this with historical examples of protests and movements that were not proscribed despite engaging in more significant actions, implying a selective application of the law. The video also touches on the broader political context, suggesting that some Labour MPs are wary of the government's approach, fearing it could alienate constituents and alienate the party from its traditional base that supports protests and activism. The discussion implies that the government's decision lacks a solid evidence base and may be driven by political considerations rather than a genuine threat assessment.

### Hain's Criticism

- UK government "digging itself into a hole" over Palestine Action proscription
- Hain claims proscription is based on "misinformation" and "shite"
- Hain argues group's actions (graffiti, vandalism) don't meet Terrorism Act 2000 threshold for "serious damage to property" or violence

### Creasy's Doubts

- Labour MP Stella Creasy also questions the proscription
- Creasy cites own research and government reports indicating lack of violence against individuals by Palestine Action
- Creasy argues ban is politically motivated, not evidence-based

### Legal Threshold for Terrorism

- Terrorism Act 2000 requires "serious damage to property" or violence for proscription
- Reports suggest Palestine Action's actions are primarily minor property damage
- Government's case appears based on property damage, not direct violence

### Historical Context

- Comparison to past protests and movements that were not proscribed
- Implication of selective application of anti-terrorism laws

### Political Implications

- Concerns that the ban alienates constituents and the party's base
- MPs may regret voting for proscription due to lack of evidence

![Screenshot at 00:12: Headline from The Guardian stating "Peter Hain says UK government 'digging itself into hole' over Palestine Action"](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WspjUcD1sR4/00-00-12.png)
![Screenshot at 00:27: Quote from Peter Hain stating "It will end in tears for the government. We are seeing retired magistrates, retired and serving doctors and all sorts of people being arrested and now effectively being equated with terrorists such as al-Qaida, which is absolutely wrong."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WspjUcD1sR4/00-00-27.png)
![Screenshot at 01:02: Headline from The Guardian stating "Next UK protest over Palestine Action ban aims to sign up 1,000 people"](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WspjUcD1sR4/00-01-02.png)
![Screenshot at 01:39: Peter Hain's quote from the video: "There is a battery of other crimes that could be applied to Palestine Action but terrorism is not one of them, while you also devalue the charge of terrorism by equating it with the protests we have seen."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WspjUcD1sR4/00-01-39.png)
![Screenshot at 01:56: Peter Hain's quote: "I worked with the intelligence services and others to stop dissident IRA groups from killing. I have signed warrants to stop other real terrorists, Islamist terrorists, bombing London. So I am not soft on terrorism. But I am a strong believer that you have to know what it looks like."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WspjUcD1sR4/00-01-56.png)
![Screenshot at 03:04: Stella Creasy speaking in a video, stating "THOSE OF US WHO PROSCRIPTION NEED TO BE CLEARER ABOUT THE \[basis\] FOR THAT."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WspjUcD1sR4/00-03-04.png)
![Screenshot at 03:12: Stella Creasy continuing: "Now that is more complicated than it should be because the evidence presented to us about the use of violence against individuals is part and parcel of court cases."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WspjUcD1sR4/00-03-12.png)
![Screenshot at 05:34: Text overlay from The Guardian report: "\[The report\] said the group 'primarily uses direct action tactics', which typically resulted in minor damage to property. 'Common tactics include graffiti, petty vandalism, occupation and lock-ons,' it added."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WspjUcD1sR4/00-05-34.png)
![Screenshot at 06:22: Text overlay from The Guardian: "\[PRG\] said a ban would be 'relatively novel' as "there was no known precedent of an organisation being proscribed on the basis that it was concerned in terrorism mainly due to its use or threat of action involving serious damage to property"."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WspjUcD1sR4/00-06-22.png)
![Screenshot at 09:36: Kieran Andrieu speaking: "I don't know how many things are going to play out with regards to Palestine Action... I do know absolutely this: that in years to come, Stella Creasy will be regarded in the same way that we today regard women who decried for their suffrage and crazy women..."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WspjUcD1sR4/00-09-36.png)