Such backward steps have been quietly taking place over decades to the point that they are now so entrenched in administration policy that they have become normalised.

The bubble burst when the UK government decided to proscribe the activist group Palestine Action, casting it as a terrorist organisation, making the support or membership of the organisation an arrestable offence punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment.

To date, 3,500 people in the UK have been arrested, many of them elderly pensioners, for alleged support of the group, many of them for simply holding up holding up placards stating: ‘I oppose.Genocide. I support Palestine Action’. Over 2,000 have been charged, but all legal action is paused while legal action to repeal the proscription continue.

A number of individuals who posted their support of Palestine Action on social media had their homes raided by police as a result of their posts.

Palestine Action states its aim is to disrupt the arms industry that has contributed to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and illegal wars elsewhere.

In related matters, Irish author Sally Rooney has renoved her books from UK retail outlets due to difficulties arising from her donating her royalties from sales to Palestine Action.

It has also been revealed that up to 2,000 UK citizens served in Israel's army since its assault on Gaza began in 2023.