Police have arrested demonstrators outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool during a protest in support of Palestine Action.
More than 200 protesters sat outside the conference at the ACC Liverpool, with many holding home-made banners which read: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
Officers stood by before moving in to arrest an elderly man who was sitting under a tree.
Another arrest was made after a protester was told he was holding up a sign supporting a proscribed organisation.
After asking the man if he was going to continue holding up the sign, police led him away.
More protesters are expected to sit in the same spot as those who have been arrested.
Frontman of Bristol trip-hop band Massive Attack Robert Del Naja, also known as 3D, was reportedly arrested yesterday outside the conference venue.
Footage posted online appeared to show Mr Del Naja saying he “doesn’t recognise the offence” before officers arrest him and remove him from where he was sitting.
Protesters held sights outside the conference venue
|
PA
In June 2025, then-Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to ban the group.
Protesters have typically held up placards, worn T-shirts, and donned badges declaring “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”, leading to their arrests under anti-terrorism legislation.
Defend Our Juries (DOJ) announced plans to host a mass, silent sign-holding vigil in the city.
A DOJ spokesman said: “We had hoped the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, would do the sensible thing and bin the ban on Palestine Action given the weight of public pressure to do so and the escalating amount of resources required in enforcing it.
Police are making arrests at the scene
|
PA
The spokesman continued: “Continuing the charade of the proscription of Palestine Action is illogical, unsustainable and immoral.
“Hundreds of people, from professions including teachers, pensioners, and healthcare workers, are willing to be arrested today to let Andy Burnham know that it is not enough just to say that Israel is committing war crimes including ethnic cleansing in Gaza, he must take meaningful action to end UK complicity with Israel’s crimes.
“The first step the PM could do today, from the podium of his inaugural party conference is to commit to ending the prosecution and jailing of people as terrorists just for standing up against war crimes and genocide.”
More to follow…