A deepening humanitarian and political crisis is unfolding within Britain’s prison system as eight detainees affiliated with the proscribed group Palestine Action continue a prolonged hunger strike, now exceeding 40 days for some. The situation has escalated into a direct confrontation between the UK government and advocates for the prisoners, casting a harsh spotlight on Justice Secretary David Lammy.
The core of the controversy stems from Lammy’s claimed ignorance of the coordinated protest. Shahmina Alam, sister of hospitalized hunger striker Kamran Ahmed, publicly challenged the minister at a Christmas event, presenting him with a letter she asserts was previously sent to his office detailing the strike and its demands. Lammy’s response—’I didn’t know anything about this’—has been met with accusations of incompetence or dishonesty.
With five strikers already hospitalized suffering severe weight loss and dangerous ketone levels, medical concerns are acute. Lawyers for the prisoners have issued a dire warning to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), stating there is a ‘real and increasingly likely potential that young British citizens will die in prison, having never even been convicted of an offence.’
The political pressure on Lammy is intensifying. Labour MP John McDonnell raised a point of order in the House of Commons, condemning the government’s silence on his own correspondence as ‘totally unacceptable.’ Meanwhile, the MOJ maintains its standard procedures are being followed, with a spokesperson stating, ‘The deputy prime minister is being kept informed of the situation,’ and that prisoner wellbeing is continually assessed.
Families report being systematically kept in the dark regarding their relatives’ medical conditions, citing horrendous experiences with prison staff who offer no support or updates. The MOJ justifies this by citing legal restrictions on sharing healthcare information with ‘unverified callers.’ This standoff, pitting prisoner welfare and transparency against official procedure and the enforcement of proscription orders, presents a significant challenge for the new Justice Secretary.