UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Social media influencer Nicola Thorp resigned in protest against the UK government’s move to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist group.
As reported by The Telegraph, a TV presenter and influencer working with the Home Office has stepped down following the department’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action.
What did Nicola Thorp say about quitting Home Office work?
Nicola Thorp, an ex-Coronation Street star, used her social media influence to back government campaigns aimed at tackling violence against women and girls.
She announced on Instagram that she would no longer be “essentially promoting and doing PR for” the Home Office, claiming it is “complicit in the most abhorrent acts of violence against women and little girls in Gaza, whilst they proscribed Palestine Action.”
Ms Thorp cut ties with the government when asked to further promote its stance on addressing violence against women, a campaign led by Home Office minister Jess Phillips.
She stated,
“This request came shortly after Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, had announced that she would be proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, and it really got me thinking about how I feel about this particular Government.”
She backed the 2024 launch of the “right to know” rule, which gives victims the right to learn who is stalking them.
She has repeatedly criticised the Government’s handling of pro-Palestinian protests in Britain.
Ms Thorp shared a video of an armed officer confronting a protester carrying a Palestinian flag, commenting,
“This is Yvette Cooper’s Britain.”
She described the scene as “unbelievable” and asked,
“Where are all the free speech advocates now?”
She rejected an invitation to speak at the Labour Party conference in September, as part of a panel on violence against women and girls organised by the NSPCC.
In response to this invitation, she said,
“I have ceased my work with the current Labour Government and will no longer be promoting any of the work they’re doing to tackle violence against women and girls.”
Ms Thorp added,
“While I obviously support domestic efforts and policies put in place to reduce violence against women and girls in the UK, their continued supply of arms licences to Israel, along with their position as an ally to the IDF is wildly hypocritical.”
What did Chris Philp say about Nicola Thorp?
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised Thorp, urging her to “stop virtue signalling”, adding,
“Palestine Action is a violent group who want to achieve their political aims through coercion and criminal damage.”
He stated,
“They have sabotaged an RAF aircraft, which our country relies on to defend us, they have smashed up property, and they have even attacked a police officer with a sledgehammer. This is all totally unacceptable.”
Mr Philip added,
“In this country, we decide issues by debate and elections, not violence and intimidation. Palestine Action’s methods should be condemned by anyone who believes in democracy and a peaceful political process. This influencer needs to stop virtue signalling on Instagram and call out Palestine Action’s violent tactics.”
How did the government use influencers to push policy?
The former Conservative government paid influencers who had appeared on Love Island to promote the launch of the NHS Test and Trace scheme.
The Government Communication Service introduced new rules in March requiring officials to vet influencers before involving them in official campaigns.
The policy stated that officials should
“Check whether the influencer has publicly communicated on political issues recently (last 12 months), at a high volume (monthly or more) and in such a way that is likely to become a story in its own right and undermine the campaign.”
Who signed the letter urging Yvette Cooper to stop the ban on Palestine Action?
- Michael Mansfield KC – Renowned human rights barrister
- Imran Khan KC – Lawyer for the family of Stephen Lawrence
- John Hendy KC – Labour peer and barrister
- Caroline Lucas – Green Party MP
- Jeremy Corbyn – Independent MP and former Labour leader
- John McDonnell – Labour MP and former Shadow Chancellor
- Adeel Akhtar – Actor
- Juliet Stevenson – Actor
What did the Signatories warn Yvette Cooper about in the letter?
The letter says,
“It [a ban] would leave many ordinary members of the public vulnerable – for example, simply wearing a T-shirt saying ‘I support Palestine Action’ would be seen as violating the proscription and action would need to be taken.”
It added,
“There are many dangers to proscribing peaceful direct action groups, even if their objectives are those some of us may disagree with. Current and future governments may misuse this precedent to attack other interest groups in future, offering no avenues for peacefully venting dissent.”
Key facts about Palestine Action
- Palestine Action protests against arms companies linked to Israel, like Elbit and Thales.
- They occupy buildings, throw red paint, and damage property — including a £1m attack on a Thales site.
- The UK banned them in July 2025 under the Terrorism Act 2000.
- The government says they caused serious damage, like vandalising an RAF plane.
- Amnesty and the UN say the ban misuses terror laws and silences peaceful protest.
- Over 100 people were arrested in July just for protesting or holding signs.