I'm so touched and grateful to receive this prize. I truly loved writing Intermezzo and it means the world to me to think that it has found some small place in the lives of its readers. Thank you. I wish that I could be with you this evening to accept the honour in person, but because of my support for non-violent anti-war protest, I'm advised that I can no longer safely enter the UK without potentially facing arrest.
Palestine Action have been branded as a terrorist organisation', for trying to stop crimes against humanity and for exposing the British government's complicity in genocide. 'Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, introduced the ban after Palestine Action entered the RAF base at Brize Norton and spray painted two military planes red, shining a spotlight on the role of the British military in partnering Israel's genocide against the Palestinian people.
I'll just make it absolutely clear to you, and I make no reservations about this, if anyone shows support for Palestine Action - an offense under the Terrorism Act - they will get arrested, he said. There's no doubt about that. We have the officer numbers, we have the custody capacity and all the resources to process as many people as is required. He revealed the force has access to contingency cells outside of London if needed.
We are quickly and efficiently investigating those arrested for showing support towards Palestine Action and working closely with our colleagues in the CPS, we anticipate further charging decisions through this week and beyond. We fully recognise people's right to demonstrate peacefully, and thousands continue to protest in support of Palestine without breaking counter terrorism laws. I would therefore urge anyone considering coming out and showing support to Palestine Action to reconsider,