The City of Edinburgh Council withdrew a motion calling for the de-proscription of direct action group Palestine Action.
Green councillor Claire Miller tabled the motion, which also requested that ministers meet with the families and legal representatives of prisoners who have been on hunger strike.
At the start of the council meeting on Thursday 29 January 2026, Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said late legal advice had been received to adjourn the debate on the motion for over an hour in order that it could be considered.
Following this, the Green councillor Chas Booth stated: “Reluctantly, our group has made the decision to withdraw the motion. We understand from advice that the motion is competent as redrafted and we have been advised the risk of considering the motion is very low.
“But we appreciate there are individual councillors in other parties who are uncomfortable with the situation because of the potential risks and we feel a duty of care towards our colleagues.
“We regret that the council is facing this situation and we remain concerned about the impact on democracy and freedom of speech.”
The motion stated that the council “opposes the curtailing of human rights, intimidation, discrimination and victimisation of those currently imprisoned as a result of opposing genocide” and “expresses concern for the health, wellbeing and human rights of prisoners who have undertaken hunger strikes.”
Palestine Action is a UK activist group promoting direct action against companies it says are complicit in Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
It was proscribed as a terrorist group in July 2025, which made it illegal to be a member of, or invite support for the group.
Experts have warned that penalties of up to 14 years in prison could apply.
Some UN experts, lawyers, civil liberties groups, and cultural figures have condemned the proscription, labelling it as draconian with concerns that the policy will risk criminalising legitimate protest.
As of 13 February 2026, a ruling by the London High Court found the ban unlawful, though it remains in force pending further legal proceedings.
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