B

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (GP)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 3 July 2025

Debate

Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025

Contribution

No. This SI goes directly against the promises made by Ministers when the anti-terror laws were introduced. The then Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, clarified that if direct action groups “do not engage in serious violence … the new definition cannot catch them”.—[Official Report, Commons, 14/12/1999; col. 227.] The current definition of terrorism includes property damage to cover “actions which might not be violent in themselves but which can, in a modern society, have a devastating impact”. Based on what the Minister has said and what the Government have told us, Palestine Action’s activities have not had the potential for a “devastating impact” on society, and nor have its activities included a pattern of serious violence. Yet the Government are putting it into the same category as Islamic State and al-Qaeda, setting an incredibly dangerous precedent that will impact on numerous peaceful campaigning groups. There is a long and noble tradition—

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