Pensioner, aged 94, among 150 arrested as pro-Palestine protests hit Labour conference and Miliband is confronted
Hundreds of people protested outside the conference centre in Liverpool on Sunday
Organisers of a pro-Palestine demonstration outside the Labour Party conference said more than 150 arrests were made.
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Hundreds of people sat outside the conference centre in Liverpool on Sunday, holding handmade banners saying they supported banned group Palestine Action.
Police started making arrests in the afternoon, continuing for several hours.
Defend Our Juries, which organised the protest, said on Monday that after 16 hours, more than 150 arrests were made.
A spokesperson said: “Inside the Labour Party Conference today, Ed Miliband will tell campaigners and party members that they were right to build political pressure over Gaza with their protests.
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Protesters also confronted British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband at a restaurant in Liverpool on Sunday, urging him to lift the ban on Palestine Action.
“We would like you to de-proscribe Palestine Action. We’d like you to declare genocide in Gaza,” one activist told Miliband at the restaurant.
“If you want to have a conversation with us, come and talk to us as we are being arrested,” the activist added.
The activists left after Miliband reportedly refused to comment.
Massive Attack frontman Robert Del Naja was also arrested in Liverpool while holding a sign in support of Palestine Action, according to organisers.
It is the second time he has been arrested over his support for Palestine Action
BREAKING
— Defend Our Juries (@DefendOurJuries) September 27, 2026
Ed Miliband gently questioned in the Pizza Express directly opposite where 200 people are being arrested under the UK Terrorism Act for holding pieces of paper.
Refuses to come and have a conversation with arrestees.@Ed_Miliband - Deproscribe Palestine Action. pic.twitter.com/pzIVS3bloD
“The hypocrisy is breathtaking.
“If he means what he says, why are those taking a principled stand against genocide still being arrested as terrorists?”
The group said one of those arrested yesterday was 94-year-old human rights barrister, Margaret Owen.
In July, Palestine Action was told its ban would be reviewed by the Supreme Court.
The group’s co-founder was granted permission to challenge the proscription, which came into force in July 2025.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the Government would “robustly defend” the decision.
The Home Office insists the ban is not aimed at lawful protest in support of Palestinian causes, but rather says the move was necessary because of what it described as significant criminal damage to legitimate businesses.
Both the High Court and Court of Appeal found Palestine Action’s activities included criminal acts.
However, judges disagreed over whether those incidents justified the use of terrorism legislation.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The proscription of Palestine Action followed a rigorous and evidence-based decision-making process, endorsed by Parliament.
“The Court of Appeal found that Palestine Action carried out acts of terrorism, celebrated those who took part in them and promoted the use of violence.
“The proscription of Palestine Action does not affect lawful protest in support of the Palestinian cause, which remains a fundamental democratic right.”