Who Is Elizabeth Morley? Palestine Action Protester Who Called Andy Burnham 'Bastard' Has Been Arrested Several Times

Elizabeth Morley, the West Wales activist filmed calling Prime Minister Andy Burnham a 'bastard' while being escorted from a Palestine Action protest in Liverpool, has been arrested over demonstrations supporting the proscribed group.

Morley, from near Aberystwyth and the daughter of an Auschwitz survivor, was among the protesters dealt with by police outside Labour's conference on 27 September. The Liverpool incident follows a series of arrests involving Morley since Palestine Action was proscribed in July 2025.

Who Is Elizabeth Morley?

Morley was born in Hungary in 1945 and has lived near Aberystwyth for decades. Her father, Mihaly Steiner, survived Auschwitz, according to an interview she gave to the Cambrian News in August 2025.

Morley has connected that history with her pro-Palestinian activism, telling the newspaper that she felt she had to 'stand up and be counted'. She founded the Aberystwyth Palestine Solidarity group in 2008 after becoming increasingly involved in the issue.

Her professional background extends beyond activism. Written evidence submitted by Morley to a parliamentary inquiry records that she worked in the Hungarian and French language teams at BBC Monitoring's Caversham Park operation between April 1977 and December 1995.

Elizabeth Morley Has Been Arrested Several Times

Morley's arrests followed Palestine Action being proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000 on 5 July 2025. The organisation remains on the government's list of proscribed groups.

On 9 August 2025, she was arrested in Parliament Square while holding a placard stating: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' She was among more than 500 people arrested during the demonstration and was released on bail that day.

By 18 November, Cambrian News reported that Morley had been arrested for a fourth time, after police detained her at another Palestine Action protest on Aberystwyth Promenade. A later report said she was arrested five times during 2025.

The Liverpool protest put her back in view. The video showed Morley being escorted by officers when she was asked what she would say to Burnham. She responded by calling him a 'bastard' and repeated the word.

Why Was Elizabeth Morley Detained in Liverpool?

The insult was not the reason given by police for the action at the protest.

Merseyside Police said around 180 people attended the Defend Our Juries demonstration near the Wheel of Liverpool. Officers dealt with 161 people, arresting 82 on suspicion of wearing or carrying an article supporting a proscribed organisation. Another 79 were reported for summons. Those arrested were later released on bail.

Police said they respect the right to lawful protest but would take 'proportionate action' where offences were suspected.

Palestine Action Ban Faces Supreme Court Challenge

Meanwhile, Palestine Action remains proscribed. The order took effect on 5 July 2025, bringing membership of and specified forms of support for the organisation within offences under the Terrorism Act 2000

The proscription remains subject to a legal challenge. The Divisional Court ruled it unlawful in February 2026, but the Court of Appeal overturned that decision in June and held that the Home Secretary had lawfully exercised her power to proscribe the group.

However, the Supreme Court has granted permission to appeal on one ground and scheduled a hearing for 4 and 5 November 2026.

Morley's arrests come amid thousands of cases linked to suspected support for Palestine Action. Home Office figures show that 2,819 terrorism-related arrests in Great Britain were linked to support for the group between its proscription on 5 July 2025 and 31 March 2026.