Government faces mounting pressure from peers to proscribe Muslim Brotherhood

The leading Conservative peer Lord Godson has challenged the government to follow in the footsteps of the United States and other key allies by starting steps to proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood organisation.

Godson, an influential voice on security and foreign affairs, known for his work at the helm of the Policy Exchange think tank, questioned in the Lords whether the UK Government had assessed the White House’s statement last November about designating certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist organisations, and asked if the UK would adopt a similar policy.

Last month, Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Jewish News that his government is keeping the Muslim Brotherhood under “very close review” amid mounting calls for it to be banned in this country.Keir Starmer vows to confront the Islamist extremist threat to UK Jews

In Monday’s debate Home Office minister Lord Flint emphasised that all threats are kept under review and that the Government works with relevant partners to ensure national security, while the long-standing position of not commenting on intelligence or specific proscription considerations remained.

During the debate, Tory peer Baroness Cash noted that the Prime Minister himself has made a statement to lawyers Adam Wagner KC and Adam Rose over his “absolute commitment” to expand the UK’s sanctions regime, as reported by Jewish News.Starmer gave ‘absolute’ pledge to widen Hamas-linked sanctions, lawyers reveal

“The disclosure has gone beyond the public statements from that Minister and referred to targeting organisations around Hamas and organisations like Hamas. Of course, we know that Hamas has described itself as the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood,” added Cash.

Godson also attempted to put pressure on the government, telling peers that Flint ” along with other Ministers, has spoken about other individual organisations—the IRGC has been discussed in this House, as was Polisario a few weeks ago and other far right organisations—so we do discuss these matters.

“Secondly, it is not just an intelligence matter; it is a political and policy matter relating to the sectarian agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood, which the Trump Administration believe has also engaged in terrorism. It is not just the Trump Administration: all our key European allies have produced reports now on the Muslim Brotherhood, such as the French interior ministry last year and the German Federal Government and its agencies—the Verfassungsschutz.”

Flint then added:” I am replying regarding the position on proscription. The Trump Administration’s report has not yet been completed. We keep the issue of proscription under review. We will always look at threats taking place from any organisation and act accordingly. We have a number of legislative and security options to deal with that, but we will not comment on the specific issue of proscription at this time.”

Lord Walney, the government’s former extremism adviser and a crossbench peer, said he recognised the need for a no comment policy in regards to questions about possible proscription, but asked for reassurance that the Government “recognise the threat that the Muslim Brotherhood and related organisations pose to this country, not least in the way in which they have long sought systematically to undermine our democratic institutions in favour of their overall goal of replacing democracy with a caliphate.”

“A wide range of offences and powers can be used to counter the threat from extremism, including any attempts by the Muslim Brotherhood to take action that is against the interests of the United Kingdom,” said Flint.

“That includes powers to regulate charities and to look at broadcasting, education and immigration. It also includes other offences, such as the encouragement of terrorism and public order offences. We will continue to monitor that and, if required, the appropriate authorities—the police or the security services—will take action. ”