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The Politics Show

Branding pensioners terrorists: "ridiculous... and deeply disturbing" | Sir Jonathon Porritt, arrested at Palestine Action Protest

22 min13 augusti 2025

On Saturday, in Westminster, police arrested more than 500 people under the Terrorism Act. 


That’s more in a single day than have ever been charged with terrorist-related activity in a whole year.


Many of those arrested were pensioners. Their crime: holding cardboard signs which read “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”


One of those 532 people arrested on Saturday was Sir Jonathon Porritt, a long-time activist and campaigner on green and social justice issues, former environmental adviser to King Charles and patron to over 20 charities. 


He joins Anoosh Chakelian to explain why he took part in the protest, what led to his arrest, and why he fears the Home Secretary - and the Labour party - are becoming more authoritarian.


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