The National Security (State Threats) Act 2026 is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Its full description is "An Act to make provision for the designation of bodies involved in foreign power threat activity; to create offences relating to bodies designated under this Act; and for connected purposes." It introduces a new category of foreign state-controlled organisations which are illegal to support, assist or accept "material benefit" from.[1]
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An Act to make provision for the designation of bodies involved in foreign power threat activity; to create offences relating to bodies designated under this Act; and for connected purposes |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2026 c. 24 |
| Introduced by | |
| Territorial extent | [b] |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 8 July 2026 |
| Commencement | 8 July 2026[c] |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends |
|
Status: Current legislation | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
| Text of the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The government has stated that the act will allow it to proscribe state-associated bodies not already covered by existing laws.[2] The BBC suggested in June 2026 that the government might use it to proscribe organizations such as the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[1]
Sir Ken McCallum, the Director General of the domestic counter-intelligence and security agency MI5 welcomed the introduction of the Bill, stating that it would build "on the important powers in the National Security Act 2023, which are already being heavily used" and "help us tackle the growing threat from proxy organisations, which are being increasingly used by states attempting to deniably target the UK". [3]
At the time of its discussion as a bill in parliament, multiple media sources described it as a threat to journalism and humanitarian activities unless it was amended to prevent legitimate activities from being classified as illegally receiving "material benefit" from such organizations in the form of information.[4][5][6]
Passage
editThe bill was put before Parliament on 9 June 2026, sponsored by the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Minister of State for the Home Office Lord Hanson of Flint.[7] As of 2 July 2026[update] it was in the final stages of approval following its third reading in the House of Lords, before being put before the House of Commons for consideration of the Hourse of Lords' amendments on 6 July 2026.[7] It received royal assent on 8 July 2026.[8]
Designations
editSo far designations under this act have been applied to the bodies shown in the table below.
| Minister | Date | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Shabana Mahmood | 13 July 2026[9] | Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps |
| Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right | ||
| GRU Volunteer Corps |
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- 1 2 Sandford, Daniel (9 June 2026). "Iranian group could be labelled national threat under proposed new law". BBC News. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "UK defences strengthened against foreign state-backed groups". GOV.UK. 8 July 2026. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "Director General MI5 Welcomes New Legislation". www.mi5.gov.uk. MI5. 9 July 2026. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ Crerar, Pippa; Mohdin, Aamna (29 June 2026). "UK state threats bill could pull British journalists into terror prosecutions, experts say". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ Blackburn, Tom (7 February 2026). "The National Security Bill is an Insidious Attack on Journalism". tribunemag.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ Steinfeld, Jemimah (3 July 2026). "The UK government rushing through terror laws will stifle journalism". Index on Censorship. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- 1 2 "National Security (State Threats) Bill - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament". bills.parliament.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "National Security (State Threats) Act 2026". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 July 2026. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "Support for IRGC outlawed in crackdown on foreign state proxies". GOV.UK. 13 July 2026. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
External links
edit- Text of the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026 as originally enacted or made within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.
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