Palestine Action live updates as Met Police crackdown begins after government brands group terrorists

Police in London have started arresting people for allegedly supporting Palestine Action the same day a controversial ban came into force. The Metropolitan Police posted on X on Saturday afternoon saying officers are responding to the protest in Parliament Square and making arrests, while warning expressing support is a criminal offence.

Palestine Action lost a late-night Court of Appeal challenge on Friday which sought to stop the protest group being proscribed, less than two hours before the new law came into force at midnight. The designation as a terror group means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

However, it appears some have defied the ban with a silent protest in Parliament Square. The Press Association news agency reports a mass of Metropolitan Police circled around dozens of protesters standing quietly beneath the statue of Mahatma Ghandi, with placards that said: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action”.

The move to ban the organisation was announced after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an incident claimed by Palestine Action, which police said caused around £7 million worth of damage.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action in June, stating that the vandalism of the two planes was “disgraceful” and that the group had a “long history of unacceptable criminal damage”.

Palestine Action says it is a 'civil disobedience group' that carries out direct action but does not advocate for violence. At the High Court, legal counsel said the group was inspired by 'suffragettes, anti-apartheid activists, and Iraq war activists'. They added that the group's goal is to put itself 'in the way of the military machine'.

For more than fifty years, Palestinians have faced human rights abuses due to Israeli occupation. On October 7 2023, Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,195 and taking 251 hostages. Israel retaliated with an air and ground assault on Gaza, which has displaced 1.9million and killed at least 57,000. Amnesty International and a United Nations Special Committee have called it genocide.

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The bizarre reason why the Tube is always ‘disgustingly’ hot during the Summer

We all know the feeling of stepping into London’s Tube network and feeling the unbearable wall of “disgustingly” hot air hit us in the face. But the reason why this phenomenon takes place is more bizarre than you might first think.

Hanna Fry, Professor of the Public Understanding of Mathematics at University of Cambridge, said that the London Underground is essentially a “slow cooker” which has been heating up since it was first constructed in the 1860s.

The elaborate transport system was built by digging out clay tunnels which had temperatures of around 14C at the time. Since then the clay’s temperature has been rising from the heat being added by the approximately five million people who use the system each day.

The clay’s temperature has been rising since the Tube was first constructed (Image: DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

The best-selling author and podcaster said: “They’ve all been adding heat to this essentially closed system, slowly warming up that clay so that its now 26C - it is essentially saturated with the heat of over a century which means that any extra heat that gets generated inside of these tunnels just warms up the air inside.”

“Sometimes in the Summer the heat down in the London Underground gets up to 40C even when it's only 25C, 28C outside. I mean this is basically a slow cooker that has been going since Queen Victoria was on the throne.”

Professor Fry also said that it would be tricky to bring the temperature down as an air con system would just make one part of the Tube colder and the rest hotter, while the clay would always bring the heat back up.

So, the only way to effectively bring down the temperature successfully on the Tube would be to figure out how to cool down the clay, she says. But in the meantime, some Tube lines now have aircon which at least helps things feel a little more bearable.

Which London Underground lines have air con?

Only a handful of Tube lines have air conditioning. These include:

• Circle

• Hammersmith & City

• District

• Metropolitan

The following public transport services also have cooling technology:

• Overground

• Trams

• Elizabeth line

More air conditioning is also on the way for the Piccadilly line which is set to be cooler than ever thanks to a £2.9 billion upgrade. This new fleet will replace the existing 86 trains and are expected to be in use by the end of 2025.

TfL is trying to acquire Government funding to install new trains on the Bakerloo line by 2030, which would also boast air conditioning. The Central line has also been given solar reflective material on the external train roofs and solar reducing films on windows to minimise solar gains into the carriages.

Got a story? Please get in touch at katherine.gray@reachplc.com

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South London council approves £1.1m payment to advance its own 71-home development

Bexley Council will pay £1.1 million to advance its own planning application to build 71 new family homes in the South East London borough.

A further £22m is expected to be forked out by the council for the land purchase of the development site if the residential proposal proceeds to the planning application stage.

The council's Interim Director of Finance and Corporate Services Caroline Holland approved the payment of £1.107m to BexleyCo Homes to fund the scheme expenditure up to the stage of submitting a planning application.

BexleyCo is Bexley Council's own property developer that currently has the ambitious target of investing in and delivering 1,200 homes in the borough over the next decade.

The payment will be used to prepare a planning application to build 71 homes at Burr Farm in Bexleyheath. The houses would be built on green space to the rear of properties at 15-81 Belvedere Road and 131-173 Church Road.

BexleyCo has said that 50 per cent of the homes will be two-bedroom properties, 40 per cent will be three-bedroom and 10 per cent will be four-bedroom. Each house will also feature its own car parking and private garden.

According to a BexleyCo notice: "The proposal aims to sensitively respond to the site's setting, by respecting and preserving the privacy of neighbouring properties with the 'garden to garden' approach to the layout."

The £1.1 million payment will be provided in the form of equity and the costs will be incurred at risk to Bexley Council if the scheme does not progress to the planning application stage.

According to council documents, the money will cover "planning, additional design and development costs" such as "surveys and investigations that will be required to progress the development to planning".

If the Burr Farm scheme does progress to this stage, the council is obligated to give a further estimated payment of £22.075m (excluding VAT) to BexleyCo to complete the land purchase for the Burr Farm site.

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Hundreds demand London council 'immediately' stops decision to twin with Palestinian city

More than 1,500 people have signed a petition calling on Brent Council to “immediately halt” its plan to twin with a city in Palestine. The creator of the petition claims the decision “appears sectarian in its nature”, whilst the architect of the twinning plan suggests it is “based on misinformation and fear”.

At a meeting in May, Brent Council approved plans to twin the borough with the city of Nablus in Palestine. Brent's Labour group chair Ihtesham Afzal, who spearheaded the campaign for the partnership, said the decision “affirms the council’s commitment to solidarity and shared values”, however a prominent Jewish organisation described the decision as a “divisive gesture”.

Following the agreement, a petition signed by 1,504 people has been submitted and will be presented to the council at a meeting next week. The petition's creator, Ian Collier, has called for an immediate halt to the plan on the grounds of “equity, diversity and inclusion”, the current difficulty in travelling to the city, and its links to Hamas - a group proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK Government.

Cllr Afzal said the decision 'affirms our commitment to solidarity, shared values and unity across borders' (Image: Brent Council)

The petition states: “The proposal to twin has not given due regard to the effects of this decision to those residents with protected characteristics which include, along with the Muslim community, Jews, Christians, Jains, Sikhs, Hindus and the LGBTQ community. Brent’s objectives should be to enhance community relations and cooperation, and this proposal will undermine this objective as it appears sectarian in its nature.”

It adds: “In reality, tourism is not realistically possible for most people, including students of Brent, to Nablus. Jewish, Christian and LGBTQ communities are unlikely to be made welcome. This goes completely against the spirit of mutual co-operation and the rationale for twinning. In addition, Foreign Office advice is against all but essential travel to Nablus.”

Concern over 'anxiety' caused within communities

Brent Council's own equality analysis states that it is important to recognise that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas is "highly contentious and polarising". It suggests the conflict has been attributed to rises in hate crime in the UK and "may cause anxiety to some of Brent's communities", potentially causing different groups to be "emotionally impacted by the twinning, at the very least". The petition suggests that the council “should prioritise its time and money on local issues”.

In response, Cllr Afzal has alleged that the petition is based on “misinformation and fear” and suggests it includes “demonstrably false claims” and “inflammatory language” that “undermines the principles of democratic engagement”.

Cllr Afzal told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the Muslim councillor's names had been added to the petition “without consent” and it should be “thrown out on that basis alone”. He also claimed the suggestion that Nablus is controlled by Hamas is “not only wrong, it’s dangerous”.

Nablus sits in the West Bank - a landlocked territory illegally occupied by Israel in a war in 1967. Whilst Hamas has controlled Gaza, Fatah - a nationalist and social democratic political party - administers areas in the West Bank. Fatah has recognised Israel, said it renounced terrorism in 1988 and seeks a two-state solution for a Palestinian homeland, whilst Hamas is committed to the destruction of Israel.

A spokesperson for the Jewish Leadership Council told the LDRS that, since the conflict started, there has been a “desperate fractioning” of community cohesion, which has been accompanied by a “steep rise in anti-Jewish hatred”.

However, Cllr Afzal said that twinning with Nablus “isn’t about politics”, he described it as a “gesture of humanity, not hostility” and about “cultural and civic exchange” rather than party politics.

He added: “We will not allow the politics of fear and division to derail a simple act of solidarity, international friendship and collaboration for mutual benefit. Twinning with cities like Nablus is a peaceful, symbolic gesture that promotes mutual understanding. Opponents are using fear and misinformation to polarise the issue and divide the community.”

The petition will be presented at Brent Council’s Full Council meeting on July 7. In a response to concerns raised about the move, Brent Council Leader, Cllr Muhammed Butt said: "We understand that the decision to twin with Nablus has caused some concern, particularly in light of current affairs and the links between many Brent households and families in the Middle East.."

He added: "The twinning initiative is intended as a gesture aimed at fostering dialogue and mutual understanding, building bridges between communities, sharing experiences, and supporting grassroots collaboration. The process around this twinning, is not a closed story and we know that there is still more to be done."

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Where to buy Lioness Hannah Hampton's shirt ahead of Women's Euros 2025

Eagle-eyed fans keen to get in on the action of the Women's Euros '25 can live out their England fantasy by donning the Lionesses' shirts. The England Football online store has goalkeeper Hannah Hampton's football shirt for sale for £79.99 for children, £99.99 for women and £99.99 for men.

Fans still have a few days to buy the shirt as preparations for the Euros get underway. The England women’s football team left St. George’s Park yesterday as they headed to Switzerland for the Women's Euros 2025, bound for their tournament base camp in Zurich. The 23-player squad were accompanied by coach Sarina Wiegman and their wider support team as they jetted out of Birmingham Airport ahead of their opening match against France, to be aired on ITV on Saturday, July 5, at 8pm.

Nike, the provider of shirts to the England team, has revised its policy of not selling goalkeepers' shirts following complaints by Hampton's predecessor Mary Earps, who retired in May and was one of the England team's most popular players. During the last Euros, fans were clamouring to get hold of her shirt but the store had none for sale.

The football strip is available to purchase online (Image: England football store)

Earps complained for a change in policy and said that her Manchester United shirt sold out the previous season and was the third bestseller overall. Now, with Hampton's shirt available to purchase, all team members can be represented by fans watching the games across the country.

Earps, 32, officially stepped down on May 26 and said it was "a hard decision" but she added it was “now the right time for me to step aside and give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive.” Although Earps had been discussing her retirement with Wiegman over the past 12 months, things came to a head when the manager allegedly told Earps she would not be first choice as goalkeeper in the 2025 Euros, instead promoting Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, 24, as the starter.

In April, Earps told Wiegman she would resign, and the manager is understood to have asked Earps to reconsider. But on May 26, Earps said goodbye to her teammates and Wiegman is said to have voiced her frustration in front of players before walking out. Earps did not mention Wiegman in her departing statement.

Earps, who won Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award for 2022, was one of the team's most popular players and a standout during the last Euros in 2022, which saw the Lionesses emerge triumphant.

Before the team's departure for Switzerland, Prince William and FA CEO Mark Bullingham met with them for a special send-off ceremony. Players hosted their friends and family on site in a private lunch, with the prince sitting with the squad members going to their first senior tournament – Michelle Agyemang, Aggie Beever-Jones, Grace Clinton, Khiara Keating, Maya Le Tissier, Anna Moorhouse and Jess Park – and getting the chance to meet their loved ones.

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The special send-off ceremony took place in Birmingham's Hilton Ballroom, with presentations to the squad from Wiegman and Prince William, who also gave each member of the team a commemorative gift, beginning with captain Leah Williamson, before posing for a special team photo. Later that afternoon, the squad were waved off by visiting schoolchildren from the Hilton, heading for the airport and then on to Switzerland.

England's Football online store has goalkeeper Hannah Hampton's football shirt for sale for £79.99 for children, £99.99 for women and £99.99 for men. The shirt is not available to purchase elsewhere, but you can shop the classic England kit at Next and Nike, and you can add personalisation - like Hampton's name - to the kit at Sports Direct.

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Bob Vylan banned from US and police launch criminal investigation into Glastonbury set plus Kneecap

Rap duo Bob Vylan have been banned from the US ahead of a tour later this year after their Glastonbury performance, which is now under criminal investigation as well as the set by Kneecap. US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau said Bob Vylan are banned from entering America because of "their hateful tirade at Glastonbury."

Mr Landau announced the decision to revoke the pair's US visas after one half of the duo, rapper Bobby Vylan chanted "death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)" at the festival. The BBC has since expressed its regret at not pulling the live stream of the act's performance during Glastonbury on Saturday, saying the "antisemitic sentiments" expressed by the group were "utterly unacceptable".

Providing an update on Monday (June 30) afternoon Avon and Somerset Police said: “Video footage and audio from Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s performances at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday has been reviewed. Following the completion of that assessment process we have decided further inquiries are required and a criminal investigation is now being undertaken. A senior detective has been appointed to lead this investigation.

Police say the investigation will be 'evidence-led' (Image: Ki Price, WireImagevia Getty Images)

“This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our inquiries are at an early stage. The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes.

“We have received a large amount of contact in relation to these events from people across the world and recognise the strength of public feeling. There is absolutely no place in society for hate.

“Neighbourhood policing teams are speaking with people in their local communities and key stakeholders to make sure anyone who needs us knows that we are here for them. We hope the work we have carried out, and are continuing to carry out, reassures the public how seriously we are treating Saturday’s events. We politely ask the public refrain from continuing to report this matter to us because an investigation is already taking place.”

Bob Vylan played at Coachella in Calfornia earlier this year but will be unable to return to the US when they were set to perform in Chicago, Brooklyn and Philadelphia in the autumn. The duo, formed in Ipswich in 2017, have released four albums addressing issues to do with racism, masculinity and class.

Bobby Vylan's real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, according to reports. In a statement posted to Instagram after the Glastonbury set, Vylan said: "Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place.

"As we grow older and our fire starts to possibly dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us."

They are due to perform at Radar Festival in Manchester on Saturday and Boardmasters, a surfing and music festival in Newquay, Cornwall, in August.

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Disgraced Cold War veteran 89, may die in prison after he is unmasked as paedophile

A former RAF mechanic who worked on Radar systems at the height of the Cold War has been unmasked as a paedophile who terrorised young girls. Geoffrey Nurthen, now aged 89, molested the youngsters when he was in his 30s, in the early 1970s, Croydon Crown Court heard on Wednesday (June 25).

Once a respected veteran with 15-years military service at a time when Britain feared a Soviet nuclear attack, Nurthen's four convictions for indecent assault after a trial earlier this year have left his reputation in tatters. This week two victims told how their lives had been ruined, with one attempting suicide.

Prosecutor William Tatford KC told the court how Nurthen would attack the girls, telling them 'no, you will enjoy it' when one asked him to stop. Even when his victims complained about the pain, Nurthen responded 'you need to relax, it's not going to hurt'.

As adults in the 1990s, the victim-survivors tried to report Nurthen's disgusting behaviour, but he denied it. Nurthen was finally brought to court in 2023, when he was charged with nine offences. After denying all of them, he was cleared by jurors on five counts and convicted on four, including two multiple incident counts with 30 plus offences.

It took more than half-a-century to finally see Nurthen jailed for 12 years this week, but one victim described the effects of Nurthen's perversions as a 'life sentence'. Speaking from behind a screen, the woman described the vile abuse as 'deliberate and manipulative over years and years to satisfy his sole wants and needs'.

Still struggling to sleep at night without a light on, the woman said she still has nightmares about Nurthen 'coming to get me'. If it were not for the birth of her children, she said she may have taken her own life. "Sometimes I just feel like I am rotting from the inside out," she said.

Speaking about the girl she once was, the survivor said: "She was abandoned by those who were meant to care for her." She also said giving evidence at the trial had left her feeling 'the worst I have ever felt'.

"It's important to know the damage done was not temporary. What he did is a life sentence. He altered the course of my life from a very young age."

Nurthen's other victim also said 'life stopped' when his abuse started, triggering a period marred by 'repeated nightmares, flashbacks, and panic attacks'. In her impact statement, she wrote: "I would shake uncontrollably and burst into tears for no apparent reason. I would binge eat and be sick. Exercise excessively."

When she tried to take her own life as an adult, this caused medical complications that left her learning how to walk and talk again.

Military tech 'pioneer' jailed for 12 years

Nurthen's defence counsel Charlotte Newell KC described her client as a 'pioneer' in his field, having worked as a mechanic in the RAF from the age of 15. After travelling to America for a NATO anniversary with the famous Dambusters 617 Squadron, responsible for daring bouncing bomb raids on German dams during World War Two, Nurthen also spent time in Canada and Singapore working on the latest Radar warning systems.

Nurthen, who wore an Avro Vulcan bomber pin on the lapel of his tweed jacket, also worked for the Civil Aviation Authority in Ireland, for Rolls Royce, and then later for telecoms business ITT which became Alcatel.

In later life, Nurthen developed computer systems from scratch for commercial unions and continued as a consultant into his retirement so he could support his wife who died with Alzheimer's disease in 2009. After her death, Newell said Nurthen lived a 'quiet and civil life', attending an RAF veteran's association as friends around him also died.

Judge Anthony Dunne was limited by sentencing guidelines at the time of the offences, which gave a maximum of 5 years jail time for indecent assault. Under current laws, Nurthen could have faced up to 15 years in prison for each offence.

After limited mitigation from Ms Newell, which included his lack of previous convictions, positive good character, and old age, Judge Dunne passed consecutive sentences of four years for the multiple incident counts and another two years each for the single incidents.

The law at the time also bound the judge to pass a separate four year special license period. It means Nurthen will serve at least eight years before he is eligible for parole, plus a four year license period once the license period for his sentence expires. Nurthen also becomes a registered sex offender who must report his whereabouts to police.

Got a tip, a court date, or some gossip? Please email callum.cuddeford@reachplc.com or WhatsApp 07580255582.

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