UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights and anti-war groups after suggesting some protests against Israel’s actions in the Middle East could face restrictions, with critics warning the move threatens free speech and democratic rights.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday, Starmer said there are circumstances in which he would support stopping pro-Palestine demonstrations altogether and called for “tougher action” against slogans such as “globalize the intifada.”
The remarks sparked immediate backlash from campaign groups and rights advocates. John Rees, co-founder of the Stop the War Coalition, said Starmer’s comments “strike at the root of free assembly and free speech” in Britain.
Rees argued that public demonstrations will continue as long as the conflict persists. “As long as the wars continue and the killing continues, people will keep demanding accountability from this government,” he said, rejecting suggestions that the protests pose a wider threat.
He noted that among the millions who have attended pro-Palestine marches in London since 2023, only a very small number have been arrested for offenses such as alleged support for Hamas. According to Rees, organizers routinely intervene when participants use inappropriate slogans.
The issue has also become politically charged, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch calling for a total ban on pro-Palestine marches, claiming they provide cover for intimidation against Jewish communities.
Rees strongly rejected that characterization, saying there is “no threat whatsoever” to Jewish communities from the demonstrations and pointing out that many Jewish participants attend the marches in opposition to Israeli government actions.
He also dismissed attempts to link the protest movement to Wednesday’s attack on two Jewish men in London, saying there is no evidence the suspect had any connection to the demonstrations.
Other voices also pushed back against the idea of tighter protest restrictions. Lord Mann, the government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, said peaceful anti-Israel protests should not face bans in a democracy.
Labour peer and former Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti urged the government not to conflate protest with violence, saying political leaders should show “balanced judgment” rather than move to further restrict peaceful dissent.
Campaign group Defend Our Juries also criticized Starmer’s stance, posting on X: “End the genocide, not our freedoms to oppose it.”
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