Starmer Faces Backlash Over Proposed Restrictions on Pro-Palestine Chants

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ignited significant controversy following his announcement on October 8, 2025, to scrutinise and potentially restrict chants at pro-Palestine protests. This move has prompted accusations of limiting free speech amid rising communal tensions in the UK. While on a trade mission in India, Starmer stated he directed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to expand a review of police powers, suggesting that the government needs to “go further” in addressing what he described as inflammatory slogans.

The announcement coincided with large-scale protests marking the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, where demonstrators chanted the controversial slogan, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” This phrase, interpreted variably as a call for the eradication of Israel or an appeal to end the occupation, has been previously deemed “controversial” by the Metropolitan Police but rarely resulted in prosecutions.

Starmer’s comments come in the wake of heightened antisemitism concerns, particularly following a knife attack at a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur that resulted in two fatalities. He urged students to refrain from participating in protests, citing the potential for increased antisemitic incidents.

Government’s Approach to Protest Regulation

The Prime Minister’s directive aligns with Mahmood‘s earlier remarks regarding the need for police to assess the “cumulative impact” of protests, which may lead to rerouting or limiting repeated demonstrations. Starmer elaborated, stating, “I’ve asked the Home Secretary to look more broadly at what other powers are available, how they’re being used, and whether they should be changed in any way.”

Over the weekend, nearly 500 arrests were made related to the banned group Palestine Action. Officials justified these actions as necessary to protect Jewish communities from what they described as “considerable fear.” However, critics argued that such enforcement is selectively applied, raising concerns about the implications for civil liberties.

Human rights advocates have condemned Starmer’s proposed restrictions, characterising them as an authoritarian overreach that threatens legitimate activism. One such group, Defend Our Juries, which opposes the terrorist designation of Palestine Action, accused the Labour Party of fostering an “anti-democratic agenda.” They warned that the government’s actions could pave the way for further restrictions on fundamental rights to free speech in the UK.

Public Reaction and Broader Implications

Critics have also highlighted the disconnect between the UK government’s focus on protest chants and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the daily child death toll starkly contrasts with domestic political concerns. Legal experts have expressed apprehension that amendments to protest laws could criminalise organisers through bans or sanctions.

The Independent reported that Starmer’s remarks followed a wave of student-led defiance against the proposed restrictions. Meanwhile, various media outlets, including The Telegraph, noted that calls for stricter chants regulation have emerged in the wake of the October 7 marches, suggesting that these could be part of broader reviews empowering police to impose outright bans if deemed necessary due to potential disorder.

As Mahmood conducts her review of existing legislation, civil liberties advocates caution that the government’s approach may blur the lines between protest and prosecution. This situation could potentially trigger increased resistance and deepen societal divides in an already polarised Britain. The implications of Starmer’s proposed measures will likely be closely monitored as debates over free speech and the right to protest continue to unfold.