The government is considering a ban on MPs and councillors from associating with groups like the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Extinction Rebellion, and Just Stop Oil. The proposal, put forward by the government’s adviser on political violence, John Woodcock, suggests that mainstream political leaders should adopt a “zero-tolerance approach” to groups that use disruptive tactics or fail to stop “hate” on marches.
Rishi Sunak and James Cleverly, the home secretary, are set to discuss the proposals as part of a review conducted by Woodcock, the former Labour MP who now sits as Lord Walney, a cross-bench peer.
The prime minister was criticized by human rights groups for warning of “forces here at home trying to tear us apart” during a hastily arranged address in Downing Street on Friday. On Wednesday, he was accused of exaggerating tensions at protests after he warned of “mob rule” in the UK.
In an article in the Sun on Sunday, Walney wrote: “My review on political violence is about to be formally submitted to the prime minister and the home secretary. In it, I am asking the leader of every mainstream political party to take a zero-tolerance approach to the menace that is threatening our democracy.
“So Rishi and Keir [Starmer] should instruct their MPs and councillors not to engage with anyone from the PSC until they get their house in order and cut the hate from their marches.”
The proposals are politically convenient for the government because, if accepted, they would put further pressure on the Labour leader over his party’s stance on pro-Palestine demonstrations.
Several sitting Labour MPs have attended PSC events – including the former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and the MP for Poplar and Limehouse, Apsana Begum. Labour has refused to suspend MPs who have attended events, despite demands from senior Tories, because PSC is not a proscribed organisation.
Tories have previously engaged in talks with Extinction Rebellion, including the levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, whose department is working on the definition of extremism as part of its brief. Ministers are looking at broadening the new definition to cover groups whose actions “undermine” the UK’s institutions, as previously reported by the Observer.
While environment secretary in 2019, Gove met Extinction Rebellion and said afterwards he shared their “high ideals” to tackle the climate crisis.
Starmer is already under pressure to allow Labour representatives more freedom to condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza, after George Galloway’s emphatic byelection victory on Thursday in Rochdale, where 18% of the population is Muslim.
Many within Labour believe it points to anger felt by Muslims over the party’s position on Israel. A shadow frontbencher questioned whether the Labour leadership had gone far enough in dispelling false narratives…
2024-03-03 17:30:02
Original from www.theguardian.com