Some Pro-Palestinian Rallies Should Be Curbed: Starmer

Prime Minister Keir Starmer signaled he is open to giving UK authorities more power to curb protests, saying some demonstrations may need to be stopped in light of rising concern among Jewish communities. In an interview with BBC Radio 4, Starmer said he backed tougher policing of language used at marches and accepted there could be instances in which protests should be halted. While stressing he would "always defend the right to protest" and free speech, he said the "repeated" nature of pro-Palestinian marches was having a cumulative impact on Jewish people, the BBC reports.

Safety concerns have increased after recent arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites in London, per the AP, as well as the stabbing of two Jewish men in north London this week that police have decreed an act of terrorism. The government commissioned a review of public order and hate crime laws, after two Jewish people were killed outside a synagogue in Manchester last year, that has not been published. Starmer said the government will look into what other powers it can use, saying chants such as "globalize the intifada" are dangerous and should be prosecuted. Under existing law, police can restrict or, with the home secretary's approval, seek to prohibit protests in cases of serious public disorder.

The idea of limiting pro-Palestinian marches has split political and community figures, per the BBC. The government's terrorism laws reviewer, Jonathan Hall KC, and Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis have both called for a temporary halt, arguing the protests are currently fostering antisemitism. Organizers such as the Stop the War Coalition say they condemn antisemitism but reject any link between the marches and attacks on Jews. Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Jeremy Corbyn's Your Party have warned against using the attacks to justify broader restrictions on civil liberties, while the Liberal Democrats say protests should proceed only when deemed safe by police. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for an outright ban, and Reform UK has accused both main parties of failing to police marches robustly.