LONDON: British trade unions have demanded that the UK government reverses its ban on a pro-Palestinian protest group.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government proscribed Palestine Action under antiterrorism laws in July after members of the group allegedly damaged jets at a military base.

Public displays of support for the group are outlawed under the ban, as a result of which hundreds of protesters have been arrested at demonstrations over the summer, including more than 800 in London last weekend alone.

Delegates at the annual conference of the Trades Union Congress, which concluded in Brighton on Wednesday, voted unanimously to demand that the government “repeal the authoritarian proscription of Palestine Action.”

The decision by the TUC, a federation that represents 47 unions with about 5.5 million members, is the latest sign of growing tensions over the conflict in Gaza between Starmer’s government and left-wing groups traditionally allied with the Labour Party. Many Labour MPs are also angry about the lack of tough action from UK authorities against Israel.

The TUC call for the ban on Palestinian Action to be overturned was part of an amendment to a broader motion calling on UK authorities to help secure an urgent ceasefire agreement and facilitate the delivery of aid into Gaza.

The amendment was proposed by the Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents civil servants. It also called for the government to “uphold and strengthen the right to peaceful protest, following the arrest of activists.”

Martin Cavanagh, president of the PCSU, said: “We believe this proscription represents a significant abuse of counterterrorism powers and a direct attack on our rights to protest against the genocidal Israeli regime.

“Since the proscription, it is clear that the policing has been particularly heavy-handed."