Protests and legal pressure mount at Burnham's first Labour conference

Key points

• Defend Our Juries organized a silent vigil in Liverpool, expecting hundreds of attendees and further arrests, to protest the proscription of Palestine Action.
• Massive Attack member Robert Del Naja was arrested for holding a sign supporting Palestine Action, later calling on Burnham to de-proscribe the group.
• Over 3,600 people have been arrested since Palestine Action was outlawed in July 2025 for displaying support for the group.
• Legal experts, including former Court of Appeal judge Alan Moses, signed an open letter demanding expanded sanctions against Israel, including trade restrictions.
• Burnham has imposed sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements but faces pressure to suspend all arms sales and reverse the ban on Palestine Action.
• The US recently designated Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, complicating the group's legal standing and international support.

Background

The UK proscribed Palestine Action in July 2025, leading to a civil disobedience campaign. The US subsequently designated the group as a terrorist organization in August 2026. Labour's stance on Palestine has evolved from Ed Miliband's two-state solution support to Burnham's recent sanctions on settlements, but activists argue these measures are insufficient compared to the previous government's inaction.

How outlets are covering it

Al Jazeera emphasizes the protest as an 'integrity test' of Burnham's commitment to ending UK complicity in Israel's actions, highlighting the tension between Labour's new sanctions and the continued ban on Palestine Action. The New Arab focuses on the high-profile arrest of Robert Del Naja, framing it as a direct challenge to the government's anti-terror laws. UA.NEWS shifts the focus to legal and diplomatic pressure, detailing demands for broader sanctions against Israel and accountability for the deaths of British aid workers, while noting the government's support for a two-state solution and opposition to BDS boycotts.

Why it matters

The events at the Labour conference highlight the deepening divide within the UK government and opposition over the handling of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The arrests and legal challenges signal a potential escalation in civil disobedience, while the push for stricter sanctions could impact UK-Israel relations and trade policies. The outcome may influence future UK foreign policy and its alignment with international legal opinions on the conflict.

What to watch

Burnham's government will likely face continued pressure to reverse the ban on Palestine Action or expand sanctions against Israel. The Labour conference may see further debates on Middle East policy, with Middle East Minister Stephen Doughty and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband expected to address the issues. The US designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist group may complicate international support for the group and its supporters.