Campaigners claim Welsh forces made arrests at every “Lift The Ban” protest, while Police Scotland made none

POLICE forces across Wales have been accused of acting in a “coordinated” manner after officers made arrests at every Lift The Ban protest held in Wales on Tuesday (Nov 18), including a significant operation in Aberystwyth where Dyfed-Powys Police said they were “overwhelmed” by the number of protesters.

The Lift The Ban campaign involves participants sitting silently while holding cardboard signs reading: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” The Home Office proscribed Palestine Action under terrorism legislation earlier this year.

Campaigners say police in Scotland and Northern Ireland took a different approach. Police Scotland made no arrests of 49 protesters outside Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh, while PSNI has not arrested anyone at similar events in Derry. In contrast, every protest held in England and Wales on Tuesday resulted in arrests.

Arrests in Aberystwyth

A total of 12 people were arrested on Aberystwyth promenade near the bandstand, with further arrests reported to be “ongoing”. Campaign organisers said officers appeared to be “struggling with capacity” as the number of demonstrators increased.

Dyfed-Powys Police has not yet released a full statement, but observers reported a heavy police presence and the use of vans to transport detainees from the seafront.

Arrests also made in Cardiff

In Cardiff, 12 protesters were arrested outside the Senedd as part of the coordinated UK-wide campaign. Actions also took place in Leeds, Nottingham, Oxford, Gloucester, Newcastle, Northampton and Truro.

Across the UK, organisers claim over 200 people took part, with 142 confirmed arrests by Tuesday evening.

Campaigners highlight differences between nations

A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries, which coordinated the actions, said the difference between Scotland and Wales was becoming “impossible to ignore”.

“Previously, many police forces took the view that peaceful sign-holding was not an arrestable offence,” the spokesperson said. “The sudden shift today — with every English and Welsh force making arrests — looks worryingly coordinated. The Home Office needs to answer whether pressure was put on local forces.”

They added that the ban on Palestine Action was already under legal challenge in Scotland, raising the possibility of differing judgments between Scottish and English courts.

Background to the campaign

Supporters of Lift The Ban are calling on the UK Government to reverse the proscription of Palestine Action and to formally recognise what they describe as genocide in Gaza. Around 2,000 people have been arrested at previous actions since the campaign began, with approximately 170 people charged under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Campaigners highlight that, earlier this year, the Scottish Counter-Terrorism Board concluded that Palestine Action “has not been close to meeting the statutory definition of terrorism”.

Further actions planned

The campaign will continue this week with a demonstration at the Ministry of Justice in London on Thursday (Nov 20), followed by weekend actions in Tavistock Square, Derry, Belfast and further protests scheduled for Cardiff and Edinburgh on Saturday, November 29.

THE SENEDD could face a £22m funding gap and run out of money to pay staff, politicians and contractors by January 2027, the Welsh Parliament’s speaker has revealed.

Elin Jones, the presiding officer or Llywydd, warned of dire knock-on effects for the Senedd of a failure to agree the Welsh Government’s 2026/27 budget.

Labour lacks a majority and needs opposition support to pass its spending plans. If the deadlock is not broken, the Senedd – like the government – would be forced to operate on 75%, and subsequently 95%, of this year’s budget in the next financial year from April.

Ms Jones said such a scenario would present a significant financial challenge, resulting in the Senedd effectively running out of cash after only nine months in January 2027.

She told the Senedd’s finance committee that expansion from 60 politicians to 96 at the May 2026 election will cost about an extra £13m in pay and allowances.

Ms Jones, who chairs the Senedd commission, which manages the estate and support services, wrote: “This represents the principal factor behind a potential funding gap of around £22m.

“Such a shortfall could not be managed by simply reallocating resources, as the majority of the commission’s budget is committed to staff costs and contractual payments.

“Any reduction in these areas would likely incur further costs, such as redundancy payments or early termination penalties, thus intensifying budgetary pressures and significantly limiting the resources available to support the parliament at the outset of the new Senedd.

“If the Senedd were in this position, the budget would run out after month nine. This would mean an inability to pay staff, contractors, members and their support staff from this point.”

Ms Jones, who will stand down after two terms as Llywydd next year, suggested the Senedd would try to bridge the gap through a supplementary budget motion following the election.

The finance committee, chaired by Plaid Cymru’s Peredur Owen Griffiths, was concerned by a lack of contingency planning being undertaken by the commission.

In a letter, Ms Jones accepted all the committee’s recommendations following scrutiny of the commission’s £102m draft budget for 2026/27 – an £18m or 21% increase on 2025/26.

In an update on plans for the Pierhead in Cardiff Bay, Ms Jones said the grade one-listed building will primarily be retained for use by the Senedd. But she confirmed the commission will explore commercial interests but the process is unlikely to conclude before May 2026.

She also offered an update on the “Bay 2032” project, which is looking at options for office space with the lease on Tŷ Hywel – the red-brick building behind the Senedd – set to expire.

The speaker wrote: “This process has demonstrated that simply rolling-over the existing lease would not necessarily satisfy the accommodation requirements of the commission nor provide best value for money to the taxpayer.

“There are, it is now clear, alternative options that may provide better value.”

Other options are thought to include buying Tŷ Hywel, taking up a nearby building, or building new offices but a final decision is expected to be pushed beyond the next election.

The Senedd will debate a motion on the commission budget on Wednesday November 19 but pivotal votes on the Welsh Government’s spending plans will follow in the new year.

PLANS by one of the largest independent organic poultry producers in Wales to extend their Pembrokeshire facilities have been given the go-ahead by the national park.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Walwyn’s Castle-based Capestone Organic Poultry Ltd, through agent Harries Planning and Design Management,sought permission for a new storage shed on site.

A supporting statement said: “Capestone Organic Poultry Ltd is an established farming enterprise (established over 20 years ago) and has grown into a large independent poultry producer, processing between 40 and 50,000 chickens a week.

“A large range of activities associated with the rearing and killing of poultry (chickens and turkeys), the preparation of various products and subsequent dispatch of products occurs within Capestone Farm.

“Capestone Organics has also expanded into the processing of organic beef, lamb, pork, and salmon. The complex comprises a mixture of conventional portal frame sheds and stone buildings throughout the complex, which have been expanded and altered over the years as the business has grown.”

It added: “The proposed storage shed is to be located adjacent to the existing loading bay located to the north of the complex. The proposed shed will be a conventional portal framed structure, with insulated box profile sheet elevations to match existing buildings on site.

“The existing access to the site is to be retained, and there will be no increase in capacity of workers on site. The proposed shed will allow better access to storage, will help to facilitate daily operations and will help the business run more efficiently.”

An officer report recommending approval said Capestone Organic Poultry Ltd is one of the largest independent organic poultry producers in Wales; the proposed building measuring approximately 30 metres in length, 15 metres in width, and six metres to the ridge, providing a total floor area of approximately 450 square metres.

It added: “The proposed storage shed at Capeston Farm is considered an appropriate development within the established farm complex. It respects the landscape character [of St Bride’s Bay], preserves nearby heritage assets, and safeguards residential amenity.”

The application was conditionally approved by park officers.