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WATCH IN FULL: Shabana Mahmood addresses MPs after cancelling pro-Iran London march
Mar 11, 2026
Shabana Mahmood has addressed MPs after approving the Metropolitan Police's request to cancel an upcoming pro-Iran march.Late last night, the Home Secretary formally announced the ban on the al-Quds Day London march with a protest clampdown in force from March 11 to April 11.Today, she addressed MPs in the House of Commons for a full rundown of her decision, which has been backed by both the Conservatives and Reform UK.WATCH HER ADDRESS ABOVE
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The Home Secretary is addressing MPs on our could stay
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...potential for conflict. The expertise regarding if and how this can be safely managed
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rightly sits with the police. And the legal test is clear. Any request to prohibit a procession must only be lodged
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with the aim of preventing serious public disorder that could not otherwise be prevented
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by imposing other conditions on a public procession under Section 12 of the Public Order Act
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Section 12 conditions typically include specifying the route, location and times of a protest
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Under normal circumstances, they are sufficient to ensure protests remain peaceful and the public are kept safe
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However, the Commissioner has clearly stated that the Metropolitan Police's view is that serious public disorder cannot be avoided
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unless a prohibition under Section 13 is introduced. This assessment is grounded in the tensions created by international conflict
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the scale of the expected march, and the presence of protesters and multiple counter groups all seeking to march at once My first duty is to keep the public safe Having carefully and thoroughly considered the risk
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the risk assessment presented to me by the Metropolitan Police, I am satisfied that an order under Section 13 is necessary
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For one month, there will therefore be a prohibition on processions in London
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related to Al-Quds Day by protesters and counter-protesters. which will come into effect today and will end on the 11th of April
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Should the Commissioner consider a further extension is required, he will be able to make a further submission at that time
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I must be clear about what this prohibition does not do. The Police and Home Secretary only have the power to prohibit a public procession
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Section 13 cannot be used to ban a static protest, referred to in the legislation as a public assembly
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Should a static demonstration proceed this weekend, the police will not be able to stop it
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Instead, they will be able to impose conditions such as dictating the precise location and timing
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People will therefore be able to exercise their right to peaceful protest though the full force of the law will be enforced if hate crimes or other crimes are committed
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Today's announcement is confined to specific circumstances, but I know this will excite
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scrutiny around the wider issue of policing protests. The House will be aware that I have
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appointed Lord Macdonald of Riverglaven to carry out an independent review of public
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order and hate crime legislation. His review is ongoing and I will update this House on
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its findings at the soonest possible moment. I would, however, like to make a wider point
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about the right to protest in this country. What I have announced today is narrowly focused
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on specific circumstances in a unique moment, but it does not alter an enduring fact. In
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In this country, we rightly pride ourselves on our freedoms, including the right to peaceful protest
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It is a precious right and one that I revere, and it sets us apart from autocracies of all
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kinds across the world. This prohibition is therefore limited and specific. It bans marches but not static demonstrations in relation to Al Day Equally I must add there is no prohibition on protesting against the plight of Palestinians and there never will be Hundreds of protests have already taken place across the country this year in solidarity with Palestinians
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and the Met alone have policed 32. Peaceful and lawful protests, whether for Palestine or for Israel or for any other cause
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must be cherished and protected, and this Government will always defend that sacred freedom
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At the same time, as Home Secretary, I have a solemn duty, and it is my first duty
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to keep the British people safe. I have been presented with the assessment of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
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that he cannot guarantee the security of our capital and prevent serious public disorder
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without a prohibition on processions relating to Al-Quds Day. Having reviewed his assessment, it is clear to me that my duty to the public and their safety
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dictates that I must accept his request. It is right that we prohibit these processions while continuing to uphold our ancient commitments
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to the freedoms that we are rightly proud of. And that is the balance, Madam Deputy Speaker, that I have sought to strike today
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and I commend this statement to the House
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