KEIR Starmer is under pressure to “come clean” on whether Donald Trump pressured him into banning Palestine Action under terrorism laws.
The Prime Minister reportedly briefed the US president on the situation at Trump Turnberry after the group vandalised his Ayrshire golf course.
Starmer approached Police Scotland for updates on their investigation into the act of vandalism and informed Trump about developments personally, a source told The Telegraph.
The proscription of Palestine Action, an unprecedented move against a protest group, has caused a political headache for the Government, with activists attempting to clog up the courts by illegally declaring their support for the proscribed organisation.
The UK Government sought to portray the organisation as violent and intent on more serious criminal activity when then-home secretary banned the group under the Terrorism Act earlier this year.
The banning order came after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in June and vandalised two planes.
But the group’s co-founder Huda Ammori has strenuously denied that it is violent and pointed out that allegations activists have been involved in violence are contested.
There are also growing concerns the UK Government was pressured into proscribing the organisation by the White House after Trump’s property was targeted.
Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman (below) told The National the decision to ban Palestine Action was “an unprecedented attack on the right to protest”
She added: “It was an authoritarian and ridiculous move that has seen priests, pensioners and peaceful protesters locked up by a UK government that is arming and enabling genocide.
“If the White House has its fingerprints on this decision then we should absolutely know about it. Keir Starmer has cosied up to Donald Trump and grovelled to him while his goons have attacked and broken up families across the US and while he has enabled genocide against Palestinians.
“It is time for Keir Starmer to come clean. Peaceful protest should never be a crime and nor should defending the right to protest peacefully. And it is certainly not any business of a thin skinned fascist like Donald Trump.”
Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill said: “The UK and its Prime Minister have been slavish and sycophantic towards Trump. There seems nothing they wouldn’t do to ingratiate themselves. It’s why independence and the ability to make our foreign policy is vital.”
The UK Government was approached for comment.
