Share

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

The Politics Show

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

•

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.


--


👉 Listen ad-free on the New Statesman app. Download it here.

📧 Get our daily politics email, Morning Call

📖 Read Palestine Action and the radicalisation of Grandma

LISTEN AD-FREE:

📱Download the New Statesman app


MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:

❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday

⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning

✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday

More episodes

View all episodes

  • US midterms: Democrats flip the House and Senate

    26:44|
    America has delivered its verdict on Donald Trump’s second term, and it is a resounding one. Democrats won sweeping victories in Tuesday’s midterm elections and will take control of the House and Senate next year.Trump has congratulated the Democrats, while insisting he doesn’t see the results as a rejection of his leadership. So who voted, why, and what does this mean for US politics?Freddie Hayward is joined by Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University, the New Statesman’s senior data journalist, Ben Walker.
  • Shabana Mahmood’s new immigration rules

    26:15|
    The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is unveiling sweeping new rules to Britain’s immigration system, which would force some migrants to wait as long as ten to 15 years for the right to settle in the UK.While she has made a concession on care workers currently working in the UK, the proposals remain controversial for retrospectively applying to many people already on the path to settlement here.What does this mean for the politics of the Labour Party, and for the country Britain will become?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Ailbhe Rea to discuss
  • Andy Burnham’s first 100 days in power

    27:39|
    The Goggleboxification of British politics, Liz Truss’s bonkers new book and Andy Burnham’s pickle over gherkin prices.Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Oli Dugmore to discuss the stories of the week.READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2026/10/andy-burnham-must-resist-gogglebox-politics https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/polling/2026/10/britain-is-giving-andy-burnham-a-chance :
  • Budget 2026: Cautious or radical?

    55:50|
    John Healey has delivered his first Budget as Chancellor, promising "breathing space" for households and businesses as the war in the Middle East drives up energy and borrowing costs.Anoosh Chakelian is joined first by journalist and economist Duncan Weldon, to discuss the economics, and second by political editor Ailbhe Rea to discuss the politics.
  • US midterms: Is this a referendum on Trump?

    22:42|
    On 3 November, Americans will head to the polls for the midterms. We will be publishing an episode for the next two Wednesdays, analysing the results.In this second episode, we ask: will voters use the midterms to punish Donald Trump? His net approval rating is at an all time low and there’s growing discontent over the Iran War and the cost of living.US correspondent Freddie Hayward is joined by political scientist Julia Azari, New York Times’ White House reporter Shawn McCreesh and the president of the Progressive Policy Institute, Will Marshall.
  • Should we scrap the Budget?

    26:39|
    We are in the middle of the usual annual tradition of pre-Budget speculation. Westminster tries to guess what the Chancellor will announce, while the Treasury attempts to make clever briefings to roll the pitch for its plans.But is there a fundamental problem with the whole ritual?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Will Dunn to discuss.
  • Martin Lewis is "on speed dial to Number 10"

    42:00|
    Martin Lewis's direct line to the government, Burnham's parking fine crackdown, and do the British public prefer picky bits or holly bobs?Anoosh Chakelian and Will Dunn round up the stories of the week.READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/economy/2026/10/martin-lewis-i-get-criticised-that-im-a-sticking-plasterhttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/the-sketch/2026/10/in-space-no-one-can-hear-britain-scream
  • Labour split over Jackdaw

    20:53|
    The government has approved drilling at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea. It is a decision that has split the Labour Party.It may only be the beginning - the far more controversial decision on the Rosebank gas field is still to come.Anoosh Chakelian is joined today by Megan Kenyon to discuss.
  • US midterms: Where are the key battlegrounds?

    20:42|
    On 3 November, Americans will head to the polls for the midterm elections.We will be publishing one episode a week for the next three weeks, every Wednesday, taking in the lead up and results.In this first episode, we ask: Where are the key battlegrounds these elections will be fought?US correspondent Freddie Hayward is joined by the NS’s senior data journalist, Ben Walker, political scientist Lisa Bryant and New York Times White House reporter Shawn McCreesh.