Polanski baited by Friend of Israel, Mike Tapp

On 15 June, we covered that minister Mike Tapp was gloating about Labour’s latest victory over civil liberties. Specifically, Tapp was celebrating because a court ruled that the decision to brand Palestine Action a terror group can stand. And since then, he’s attempted to goad Zack Polanski into publicly supporting the group:

The fact that your government has made it illegal for me to answer yes is a damning testament to your flagrant disregard for civil liberties.

This may be targeted at those taking action against the genocide, but it sets a very dangerous precedent that puts everyone at risk. https://t.co/KoC3TX2pXL

— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) June 15, 2026

Polanski catches a stray

As a recap, here’s what Tapp tweeted out yesterday:

Supporting Palestine ✅
Supporting Palestine Action ❌

Don’t support terrorists.

— Mike Tapp MP (@MikeTappTweets) June 15, 2026

Another government might be able to get away with the above. The reason this murderous Labour regime cannot is because it clearly does not support Palestine. This is obvious in the way it continued to sell arms to Israel during the genocide, and how it refused to even acknowledge a genocide was happening.

Tapp especially doesn’t support Palestine, by the way, and we know that because of his affiliations.

As Skwawkbox reported in November 2024, Labour Friends of Israel made Tapp an honorary vice chair. This group exists to forward Israel’s interests in the UK, which is a problem, because Israel’s interests include:

Subjecting Palestinians to decades of apartheid.
Committing genocide.
Doing everything possible to break the ceasefire between the US and Iran, pushing the world ever closer to a fuel crisis that crashes the global economy.

BREAKING: Israel won't withdraw from land seized in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, its defense minister says, hours after an interim Iran-U.S. deal was announced. Israel Katz's remarks are the first official Israeli comments since the announcement. https://t.co/KdVpD2iaxq

— The Associated Press (@AP) June 15, 2026

Oppressing Palestinians enjoys widespread support in Israeli society, by the way; as does the disastrous war on Iran. So the next time you’re filling up at the pump and fuel prices have rocketed, remember that Tapp is the honorary vice chair of that.

Back to recent events, Tapp also said this to Polanski:

Tell me, Zack, what should someone who is convicted of a terror related offence look like? I’m intrigued.

— Mike Tapp MP (@MikeTappTweets) June 15, 2026

If we’re going to have terror laws, then a terrorist should look like someone who just committed an act of extreme and targeted violence. The older woman being arrested was carrying a sign with words written on it.

Nineteen Eighty-Bore

Many spoke out about Tapp’s attempt to get Polanski arrested, including Owen Jones of Zeteo UK:

The more I think about this, the more shocking it gets.

A government minister asked a political opponent a question, knowing that if he answered "yes", he would be arrested and potentially imprisoned.

That's thanks to his government's unhinged law.

It is so disturbing! https://t.co/iMZ8zbotGT

— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) June 16, 2026

Others spoke out too:

The law criminalises answering this question in the affirmative but it remains perfectly acceptable for Mike Tapp and others to pledge their support for an entity governed by an apartheid regime on trial for genocide. https://t.co/sykZ2hYw8J

— Fahad Ansari 🇵🇸 (Stop the Gaza genocide) (@fahadansari) June 15, 2026

Labour politicians be like “if your opinion is so popular, how come we’ve made it illegal to say it?” https://t.co/xiAgtsbfXM

— Here's What I Reckon: (@angryaboutbikes) June 15, 2026

I don't support genocide. Do you? Seems so. In which case *you're*the one in breach of *your* obligation under the Genocide Convention to *prevent* genocide, not just wring your hands about it after all murdering is done, & demanding eNqUiRiEs when it's politically safe to do so https://t.co/0HQM4Vs0e6

— Mrs Gee 💚🇵🇸🎒 (@earthygirl011) June 15, 2026

I'm sure Labour rubbing this in people's faces won't come back to bite them at some point, just like all the other acts of left-bashing never have https://t.co/8SVFazEPkp

— Willem Moore (@willem_moore_uk) June 15, 2026

Chilling effect

Green MP Siân Berry had this to say about the decision to maintain the terror designation:

The verdict will have a gigantic chilling effect on our wider rights to protest. I voted against the proscription because I believed it was disproportionate and inappropriate, and today leaves this government as the most draconian I can think of in my lifetime.

With the rise of authoritarian administrations around the world, and a terrifying increase in far-right activity in this country, Labour ministers are taking a horrible risk with freedom in this country. Alongside, mass live facial recognition, digital ID, restriction of jury trials, and taking away trans people’s rights, they are building a toolkit for tyrants.

Add to this that Labour isn’t just cracking down on civil liberties; it’s joking about doing so for social media clout.

This is a sick and depraved party.

And the vileness goes so deep that these politicians are continuing to run with it even as it runs their party into the ground.

Featured image via Jon Rowley (Getty Images)