Rupert Lowe (Credit: Reuters)
UK MP says Palestine Action activists "should expect to be shot" after military base breach
British independent MP Rupert Lowe has sparked controversy by stating that activists from the pro-Palestine group Palestine Action “should expect to be shot” if they break into a military base with the intent to cause damage.
His remarks came following an incident last week where activists infiltrated RAF Brize Norton, the UK’s largest airbase, and spray-painted two planes before escaping on electric scooters.
If you break into a military base with the intent to cause damage, you should expect to be shot.
— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) June 26, 2025
Nobody of sound mind would disagree.
Lowe, known for his vocal pro-'Israel' stance, said on social media platform X that “nobody of sound mind would disagree” with his view that trespassers on a military base risk being shot. The activists targeted the base due to its use for flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, a hub for UK military operations in Gaza and the Middle East.
The incident has coincided with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s announcement that she will bring forward legislation to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. If passed by Parliament on 30 June, the move would criminalise membership and support of the group, marking the first time a direct action group faces such a ban in the UK. The legislation would place Palestine Action in the same legal category as Al-Qaeda and Daesh.
The proposed ban has drawn criticism from several MPs, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who argue it threatens the right to protest. Meanwhile, Palestine Action has launched a fundraising campaign to legally challenge the ban.
Read more: UK to ban Palestine Action, labeling it as "terrorist group"
Rupert Lowe’s controversial public record extends beyond this incident. He was previously suspended from Nigel Farage’s Reform party after criticising its leadership. Lowe has also voiced opposition to allowing any Palestinian refugees to settle in the UK, called for bans on non-stun halal and kosher slaughter, and proposed banning face veils.
In a separate incident earlier this month, Lowe revealed he ordered his gamekeeper to euthanise his 17-year-old dog by shooting it in the back of the head, describing the act as “humane” and citing concerns about taking the dog to a vet.
