Filmmaker Paul Laverty Arrested for Support of Palestine Action

Arrest highlights tensions within UK Labour party and UK protest laws

British police have arrested the award-winning screenwriter Paul Laverty (pictured left) for publicly supporting the civil rights group Palestine Action, recently designated a terrorist organisation by the UK government. Laverty, who works with director Ken Loach and is the husband of Spanish director Icíar Bollaín, was detained for simply wearing a T-shirt stating “Genocide in Palestine. It’s time to take action.” He is being charged with expressing support for the banned group and has been summoned to court on 18 September.

His arrest shows the growing friction between Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government and its party base, particularly over the controversial decision to classify the Palestine Action group as a terrorist organisation and then apply anti-terrorism laws to peaceful protestors. Critics, including Jonathon Porrit—former royal and government adviser—argue that the move is designed to silence dissent and is disproportionate compared to actual terror groups such as Islamic State.

700 arrests, mostly elderly

On 9 August, British police arrested over 700 people, many elderly, during a Parliament protest supporting Palestine Action. Demonstrators used handmade signs and were charged before being released due to the volume of arrests. Palestine Action, founded in 2020, has become more active in response to the Israeli offensive in Gaza, which has killed over 62,000 people.

A recent LabourList poll found 70% of party members opposed the terror classification. Nine Labour MPs voted against the measure, highlighting internal divisions. Defend Our Juries, a protest group, is planning further demonstrations, aiming to challenge government policy and test the limits of protest rights.

(Michael Leahy. Source: El Pais. Photo: picture alliance / AA | Mustafa Yalcin)