Everyone's arguing about Palestine. Reality: the UK government just criminalised protest, got slapped down by the High Court, and showed us exactly how freedom dies. Pay attention."

In the aftermath of 911, the Bush administration ordered the FBI to hand its remit for domestic counter terrorism to the CIA. At fault was “The Wall” - a set of bureaucratic and legal principles separating – in intelligence terms – the CIA from the FBI. It was designed to ensure that the FBI did not use the CIA to circumvent domestic legal restrictions regarding the surveillance, infiltration and harassment of political, civil rights and anti-war organisations. It prevented the intelligence community from creating a police state and prioritising social control over individual liberties. But it had also handicapped the US in the runup to 911. October 2001’s “Patriot Act” quickly saw to its dismantling. It was never restored.

The results were profound. A new “War” on Terror was declared. A climate of fear in the US provided room for manoeuvre. The CIA was authorised to use military force and was granted authority for extra judicial capture, detention and interrogation. An “off-grid” detention facility was built in Guantanamo Bay. “Black sites” facilitating the use of illegal interrogation techniques were established in compliant jurisdictions. The principle of innocence until proven guilty was abandoned in the interests of “victory”.

It was rampant political opportunism and the demise of US moral authority in the world.

In an on-line lecture for Cambridge University in October 2020, Lord Jonathan Sumption, former Supreme Court Justice, warned of the risks of totalitarianism, commenting that ministers in Boris Johnson’s government were deliberately stoking public fears and acting with cavalier disregard for the law.

“This is how freedom dies. When societies lose their liberty, it is not usually because some despot has crushed it under his boot. It is because people voluntarily surrendered their liberty out of fear of some external threat.

In July 2025, in the wake of its direct action campaign against UK arms supplies to Israel, and which many saw as an attempt to curry favour with the right wing, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper ordered the proscription of Palestine Action, . The move criminalised membership of the group and the expression of support for it. In almost any form. The Penalties were draconian. Miscreants could be imprisoned for 14 years. Unlimited fines could be imposed. By November 2,500 supporters had been arrested.

And then in February 2026 the High Court ruled the proscription unlawful. It was a huge victory for justice over political ambition, and a glaring example of the importance of the separation between judiciary and state.

We should be very proud. Whatever your views about the complex issues of Palestine, Israel, and terrorism it is critical that we defend our right of protest. Or we will open the door to the blatant misuse of political power. You only have to glance at today’s USA for an example of where that path leads.