ACTIVISTS are set to gather outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday as Palestine Action co-founder Richard Barnard appears for his plea hearing for charges relating to two speeches.

Mr Barnard spoke at a protest on October 8 2023 in Manchester, where he is facing two charges: one under the Serious Crime Act for an alleged act capable of encouraging the commission of an offence, the other, under the Terrorism Act, for allegedly expressing an opinion or belief that was supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely Hamas.

The 41-year-old is also facing charges for the same allegation under the Serious Crime Act for another speech days later on October 11 in Bradford.