Kemi Badenoch accused of contempt of court over Filton 24 ruling

A jury decided on 4 February to acquit anti-genocide protesters. But because establishment mouthpieces like Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch have a problem with people protesting against Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, they have chimed in. And many believe they’re in contempt of court as a result.

The decision was a “huge victory” for people opposing genocide. But it was also a clear critique of the government’s highly controversial and wasteful political decision to proscribe non-violent direct-action group Palestine Action.

The establishment’s anger was clear, though. It had done all it could to influence proceedings and moved to attack jury trials. But its efforts to stop fairness prevailing failed.

Entirely reasonable that there's so much fury that a jury of 12 ordinary people, having heard all the evidence, has reached a verdict that does not accord with the directions of the judge, Starmer's government and the billionaire-owned media.

Who do these people think they are?

— Jonathan Cook (@Jonathan_K_Cook) February 5, 2026

Kemi Badenoch chimes in

In this context, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch gave her thoughts. Despite not having been in court, not seeing all the evidence the jurors saw, and no court finding an activist guilty of injuring a police officer, she repeated a dangerous smear relating to the ongoing legal case:

Nothing to see here, just the leader of the opposition committing contempt of court live on national television.

This accusation lead to no conviction after a jury were given the full context. Nobody was “attacked viciously” or has “[gotten] away with it”.

The case is ongoing. pic.twitter.com/I5mmlMS0bg

— Defend Our Juries (@DefendOurJuries) February 5, 2026

Kemi Badenoch has expressed very pro-Israel views and maintained close ties with the Conservative Friends of Israel lobby group.

Tory Chris Philp, who is also close to the Israel lobby, added his dodgy take too:

Coming from the same man which met with Elbit Systems when he was a minister

The meeting in April 2023 was to discuss Palestine Action, and involved the police, a representative of the CPS and arms manufacturers.

Isn't the judiciary supposed to be free from political influence? https://t.co/7WozMKNBw8

— Huda Ammori (@HudaAmmori) February 5, 2026

Five defendants admitted to destroying weapons and equipment of Israeli arms dealer Elbit Systems, which has been profiting from Israel’s genocide. And the jury accepted that they had acted according to their conscience.

After over 500 days in jail. https://t.co/NWkMnzsGcd

— Lowkey (@Lowkey0nline) February 4, 2026

The government uses remand to imprison those it knows it can't convict. https://t.co/Br4qimBi64

— Ghassan Abu Sitta (@GhassanAbuSitt1) February 4, 2026

This has left the proscription case against Palestine Action in tatters.

It is only a matter of time before the ban will be lifted.

— Huda Ammori (@HudaAmmori) February 5, 2026

BREAKING: Jury unwilling to find guilty 6 Palestine Action activists

Today's judgments are hugely important.

The unwillingness of the jury to find Palestine Action activists guilty further highlights how disproportionate the decision to proscribe the organization was.… pic.twitter.com/GHQEEBLsD3

— Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) February 4, 2026

Establishment whine because justice prevailed

The police, meanwhile, also complained:

Police apparently attempting to undermine judicial process…

Officers gave a very questionable account of an incident that had already been sensationalised in the press. A jury didn’t convict, because they weren’t convinced.

The jury saw all of the evidence.
These lot did not. https://t.co/37MhX5GJK0

— Defend Our Juries (@DefendOurJuries) February 5, 2026

The serious injuries lie https://t.co/BaZR9bzbaU pic.twitter.com/4tf6CkDipW

— Dr Iain Darcy 🍉 🇮🇪 💚 (@doctoriaindarcy) February 5, 2026

As the Canary has reported:

video evidence proved that police and security guards lied about pretty much everything that happened. And the accusers were not even able to come up with convincing lies even though the police left the Israeli arms-maker in charge of the video evidence for a whole year.

Although the government attempt to portray the Palestine Action activists as violent criminals, this body-cam footage, shown to the jury during the first Filton 24 trial, shows an Elbit security guard attacking two defendants with a sledgehammer. pic.twitter.com/pY2FWctcfp

— Asa Winstanley (@AsaWinstanley) February 4, 2026

Some of the security guards were said to be ex-special forces. Not sure if this is some weird British imperial throwback or what. I can't think of any possible legitimate use for such a weapon.

Absolutely unhinged violence. pic.twitter.com/mtV2Y3vVyO

— Asa Winstanley (@AsaWinstanley) February 5, 2026

The right-wing Board of Deputies, which critics call “a principal player in the UK Israel Lobby“, was also upset about justice prevailing. And people responded by calling out its bullshit:

I am concerned that you don't appear to understand the separation of powers, the right to fair trial, the right to a jury, and somehow believe the government should interfere with the courts if the criminal justice system doesn't come up with a result you like.

— CrémantCommunarde #ChoosePeace 💚🕊️ (@0Calamity) February 4, 2026

Another petulant tweet in contempt of court

You know how criminal prosecutions work – they need to prove guilt *beyond reasonable doubt*

The jury heard the evidence and made their decision #filton24 are not “terrorists”https://t.co/Le8UxaYSKq…

— Do you condemn Israeli genocide in Gaza?🇵🇸#MMT (@sussexblogger) February 6, 2026

Many more political prisoners are awaiting trial for non-violent direct-action against genocide. And the pro-Israel Labour government has sought to keep them behind bars for far longer than the normal pre-trial detention limit, by treating them as ‘terrorists’.

Establishment forces are clearly panicking about the possibility of juries ruling against the interests of arms profiteers and compromised politicians. And as long as there’s a shred of justice remaining in our legal system, people like Kemi Badenoch and Chris Philp will just have to keep crying.

Featured image via the Canary