Just Stop Oil and Palestine Action have denounced a new report which threatens to treat the protest groups similarly to proscribed terror organisations.
The direct action groups, which regularly hold protests across the country, came out swinging as former Labour MP John Woodcock prepares to submit his 40 recommendations to Downing Street.
Lord Walney, who now serves as Rishi Sunak’s independent adviser on political violence and a crossbench member of the upper chamber, will urge the Government to introduce a stringent ban on “extreme protest groups”.
He said: “Militant groups like Palestine Action and Just Stop Oil are using criminal tactics to create mayhem and hold the public and workers to ransom without fear of consequence.”
Pro-Palestine protesters in London
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The 100,000-word report, which is set to be published as early as this week, will also recommend a ban on protesters wearing masks during marches.
However, the recommendations have left both direct action groups fuming.
Palestine Action, which stressed activists remain “undeterred” in its bid to shutdown Israeli weapons factories, called into question Lord Walney’s record.
A spokesperson told GB News: “John Woodcock is not qualified to be an 'independent' advisor on this topic.
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Lord Walney penned a 40-part report
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“He is the former chair of Labour Friends of Israel, the current chair of the 'Defence Purpose Coalition' and still receives funding from the Israel lobby.
“If ever implemented, the recommendations will only increase support for our campaign against genocide.”
They added: “Our actions align with public opinion, as a recent poll shows the majority of people in Britain want an arms embargo on Israel.
“It appears Mr Woodcock has prioritised the military interests of a foreign genocidal entity over the will of the British people.”
Just Stop Oil activists caused widespread disruption across the UK last yearJust Stop OilHowever, Lord Walney admitted to undergoing a change in his political perspective about the situation in the Middle East before serving as Chair of Labour Friends of Israel in 2011.
Speaking in 2020, the ex-Barrow & Furness MP said: “I was one of the people who had a lazy, ill-informed, and I guess small level prejudice against the nation of Israel.”
Lord Walney, who fought antisemitism as an MP under Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, added: “Talking to ordinary Israelis you realise how this is ignored and misrepresented by Western media.
“In a way that probably does filter into antisemitic prejudices.”
Rishi Sunak also received criticism from Just Stop Oil
GETTYJust Stop Oil appeared to differ by instead slamming Sunak over the situation, accusing the Government of being “dangerous radicals”.
A spokesperson said: "Last week, the Government’s climate policies were declared unlawful for the second time; their response has been 31 new oil licences, as scientists warn we’re heading into the ‘biggest threat humanity has faced’.
“It is increasingly clear to those paying attention, that it is the Government who are the dangerous radicals that are endangering all of us.”
GB News has approached Lord Walney for comment.
