The prime minister has been urged to adopt new extremism laws which would give the police greater powers to crack down on violent protest groups without labelling them terrorist organisations.
Labour MPs have called on Sir Keir Starmer to adopt measures to designate “hate groups” and introduce “tougher offences” for those who threaten violence.
An amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill would give the home secretary power to ban organisations as “extreme criminal protest groups” if they aimed to cause “sabotage, criminal damage, obstruction of critical national infrastructure, or serious public order offences”.
Proposed by Lord Walney, the government’s former independent adviser on political violence and extremism, the amendment passed the House of Lords on Monday by 200 votes to 162, meaning it will be voted on in the Commons in the coming weeks.
Walney said the government’s decision to ban the activist group Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 had proved “divisive and controversial”, adding that his proposal would provide a more proportionate.
The crossbench peer described his measure as “appropriately limited” and said it would “make a significant difference while completely preserving the right to protest and freedom of expression and association.”
He acknowledged: “There are a range of views in this House and of course in the country over the proscription of Palestine Action.
“Whether it was right or wrong, it is undeniable that the measure and its impact has been divisive and it has been controversial.
“The sight of people being arrested and charged for holding up signs is uncomfortable, whether or not you blame the law or the police or the protesters themselves.”
He later told the Lords: “I would hazard there is not great public support or understanding for branding as ‘terrorist’ those whose methods are largely limited to the intimidation that comes from criminal damage.”
Some fifteen Labour MPs have backed the amendment, according to The Times.
Modelled on measures Walney outlined in a 2023 report and similar to steps taken by Australia after the deaths of 15 people during the Bondi Beach terror attack last Chanukah, the amendment could see groups deemed to be violent banned from fundraising or organising protests.
Members or financial backers of such groups could face up to three years in prison and a fine, but people expressing support for the groups would not face criminal action.
Following the Bondi attack, officials in Canberra introduced similar powers which categorise organisations as “prohibited hate groups” if their behaviour increases the risk of violence but falls below the terrorism threshold.
Walney also tabled an amendment that would create an offence for so-called “hate preachers” to advocate or threaten violence.
Leeds MP Mark Sewards said the government should adopt the Australia-style amendment in response to “devastating antisemitic terror attacks,” and urged Britain to “stamp out extremism.”
Writing on X, Sewards, also the chair of Labour Friends of Israel, said, “We should follow Australia’s lead and create powers to designate prohibited hate groups & introduce tougher offences for those who preach or threaten violence.”
Luke Akehurst, Labour MP for North Durham, also supported the measure.
“Following the devastating Islamist terrorist attack against Jews in Australia celebrating Chanukah, the Australian government has taken swift action and is developing a new framework to list organisations in regulations as ‘prohibited hate groups,” Akehurst said.
“The UK should consider the same step against vile extremist groups currently operating with impunity,” he went on.
The government opposed the amendment in the Lords, with Home Office minister Lord Hanson saying the rules were not needed and could threaten freedom of expression.
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