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The UK’s Labour government has blown thousands of pounds of public money trying – and failing – to stop judges from asking awkward questions.
The Court of Appeal has told ministers they cannot hide behind a secretive process to avoid scrutiny of their decision to ban Palestine Action under terrorism laws.
The decision means a full High Court judicial review of the ban will go ahead next month – a significant legal challenge to one of the Home Office’s most controversial uses of the Terrorism Act.
The Home Office tried to argue that anyone challenging a ban must go through an internal “deproscription” process – a bureaucratic labyrinth that can take a year or more, and which keeps the decision firmly within ministerial control.
But Baroness Sue Carr, the Lady Chief Justice, said Parliament had not intended that process to prevent an immediate judicial review. In other words, the government was trying to stall – and the courts have called it out.
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She said:
“Judicial review would enable the High Court to give an authoritative judgment on whether or not it was lawful to proscribe Palestine Action.
“That judgment could then be relied on in criminal courts hearing charges against any person arrested in connection with their support of Palestine Action.”
The decision is a serious setback for ministers, who have used the ban to criminalise public support for the group since July 5.
Under the order, anyone showing support for Palestine Action – they mostly do it by holding a sign saying “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” – can face up to six months in jail.
More than 2,100 people have been arrested in demonstrations since the ban took effect. Around 170 have been charged with showing support for the group.
Now, the High Court will consider whether the government ever had the right to impose the ban in the first place.
Co-founder Huda Ammori, who won the appeal, said ministers’ attempt to avoid judicial scrutiny had “backfired spectacularly”:
“We now head into the judicial review in November with an even stronger legal footing.
“Arresting peaceful protesters and those disrupting the arms trade is a dangerous misuse of counter-terror resources.”
That’s an understatement.
The case lays bare how counter-terrorism powers – supposedly designed to protect the public – are being stretched to silence political dissent.
The Home Office insists it will “consider the implications” of the ruling, but maintained that “Palestine Action remain a proscribed group and those who support them will face the full force of the law”.
The message, then, is clear: ministers will keep using laws designed for terrorists against activists, even as the courts question whether the ban is lawful at all.
And they’re doing it with your money.
Instead of funding schools, hospitals, or even basic justice, public funds are being poured into defending a ban that could soon be ruled unlawful.
This is not just authoritarian overreach – it’s deliberate administrative incompetence on the taxpayer’s tab.
Once again, “national security” turns out to mean “protecting ministers from embarrassment.”
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Government blows public cash trying to block court review of Palestine Action ‘terror’ ban – and loses
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The UK’s Labour government has blown thousands of pounds of public money trying – and failing – to stop judges from asking awkward questions.
The Court of Appeal has told ministers they cannot hide behind a secretive process to avoid scrutiny of their decision to ban Palestine Action under terrorism laws.
The decision means a full High Court judicial review of the ban will go ahead next month – a significant legal challenge to one of the Home Office’s most controversial uses of the Terrorism Act.
The Home Office tried to argue that anyone challenging a ban must go through an internal “deproscription” process – a bureaucratic labyrinth that can take a year or more, and which keeps the decision firmly within ministerial control.
But Baroness Sue Carr, the Lady Chief Justice, said Parliament had not intended that process to prevent an immediate judicial review. In other words, the government was trying to stall – and the courts have called it out.
Support Vox Political!
With social media algorithms acting as gatekeepers – allowing users to read only what their owners want them to, sites like Vox Political need the support of our readers like never before.
You can help by making a donation:
https://Ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
She said:
The decision is a serious setback for ministers, who have used the ban to criminalise public support for the group since July 5.
Under the order, anyone showing support for Palestine Action – they mostly do it by holding a sign saying “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” – can face up to six months in jail.
More than 2,100 people have been arrested in demonstrations since the ban took effect. Around 170 have been charged with showing support for the group.
Now, the High Court will consider whether the government ever had the right to impose the ban in the first place.
Co-founder Huda Ammori, who won the appeal, said ministers’ attempt to avoid judicial scrutiny had “backfired spectacularly”:
That’s an understatement.
The case lays bare how counter-terrorism powers – supposedly designed to protect the public – are being stretched to silence political dissent.
The Home Office insists it will “consider the implications” of the ruling, but maintained that “Palestine Action remain a proscribed group and those who support them will face the full force of the law”.
The message, then, is clear: ministers will keep using laws designed for terrorists against activists, even as the courts question whether the ban is lawful at all.
And they’re doing it with your money.
Instead of funding schools, hospitals, or even basic justice, public funds are being poured into defending a ban that could soon be ruled unlawful.
This is not just authoritarian overreach – it’s deliberate administrative incompetence on the taxpayer’s tab.
Once again, “national security” turns out to mean “protecting ministers from embarrassment.”
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