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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
David Maddox

Polanski hits out at ‘authoritarian’ Labour over potential protest ban

  • Green Party leader Zack Polanski accused Labour of exploiting the pain of the Jewish community to justify an "authoritarian" agenda, following hints from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood about banning pro-Palestinian marches.
  • Polanski's comments were made in the wake of an antisemitic terror attack in Golders Green, London, where two Jewish men were stabbed, which has intensified calls for tougher action against antisemitism.
  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood suggested that new laws could be utilised to prevent protests, acknowledging the right to protest but highlighting instances of crime and hate crime at demonstrations and the pressure placed on the Jewish community.
  • Polanski, who is the only Jewish leader of a major UK political party, pledged that the Green Party would resist any restrictions on peaceful protest, warning that curtailing civil liberties in response to such events would be a dangerous error.
  • The conflict in Israel and Gaza has emerged as a significant point of contention between Labour and the Greens, with the latter projected to gain council seats in upcoming local elections, partly attributed to Labour's position on the conflict.

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