AN MP has added the words “We are all Palestine Action” back onto the official parliamentary record after allegations of censorship.
On July 2, before the protest group Palestine Action were formally designated a terrorist organisation by the Labour Government, MP Zarah Sultana had spoken against the proscription in the Commons.
Video of her contribution showed the now-independent MP saying: “I oppose the blood-soaked hands of this Government trying to silence us. So I say this loudly and proudly on Wednesday 2 July 2025: We are all Palestine Action.”
Hansard, the official record of all statements in the UK Parliament, initially recorded that, before being cut off, Sultana had said: “So I say this loudly and proudly on Wednesday 2 July 2025: We are all Palestine –”.
It was later edited to report that Sultana had said: “So I say this loudly and proudly on Wednesday 2 July 2025 –".
It is understood that the edit was made to remove everything after the chair first said "order", which came after a four-minute limit on speeches was reached.
However, speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, Sultana raised concerns about that explanation.
“I seek your guidance regarding the accuracy of the official report in Hansard,” she told the Deputy Speaker.
“The video and audio recordings clearly confirmed that the full sentence was spoken before the chair intervened. However, Hansard has omitted the final word of that sentence.
“I have been advised that this is due to a long-standing convention not to report words spoken after the chair intervenes, but in this instance, the record omits words spoken before the chair's intervention.
“I'm also aware of precedents – which I can provide – where members' final words immediately proceeding or overlapping an intervention have been included to preserve the accuracy of the record.
“Despite this, Hansard has not only refused to amend the entry, but has since removed the sentence entirely.
“This blatant attempt of censorship and rewriting the record is deeply concerning and undermines the integrity of the official report.”
Sultana then asked if there are any “formal mechanisms to challenge omissions of this kind, reinstate the accurate record, and ensure that Hansard fulfils its duty to provide a full and accurate record of proceedings”.
She was told that Hansard is not the responsibility of the Speaker’s office, and that she would have to “take that up directly with Hansard”.
MP’s statements in the Commons are protected by “absolute privilege” – which ensures full legal immunity for comments made in Parliament. “Qualified privilege” then allows fair and accurate media reports on Westminster proceedings based on those statements.
Last weekend, 86 people across the UK were arrested for joining in protests organised by Defend Our Juries, which saw them write the message “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” with black markers on pieces of cardboard.
In Glasgow, a man was charged with a terror offence after wearing a T-shirt which said: “Genocide in Palestine. Time to take action.”
The words Palestine and Action were in a larger font than the other text. “Action” was in red, while the rest of the words were in white. At the bottom, the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) website and logo appeared.
