Statement on Palestine by children's authors, illustrators and educators

That this House welcomes the statement on Palestine signed by over 500 children’s authors, illustrators, and educators; notes that signatories to the statement include the current UK Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce and former laureates Sir Michael Morpurgo, Lauren Child CBE, Chris Riddell OBE and Michael Rosen, as well as the current Irish Children’s Laureate Patricia Forde and all six former Irish Laureates; commends the signatories for their work to protect, inspire, and empower children everywhere; further notes that the statement urges the Government to recognise what is happening in Gaza as genocide and meet its resulting legal obligations; also notes the signatories’ concern at restrictions on protest and free expression, including the proscription of Palestine Action; and calls on the Government to acknowledge these concerns, set out how it will meet its legal obligations in response to the genocide, and review the decision to proscribe Palestine Action, including its implications on the right to protest and expression.