National Security (State Threats) Bill: HL Bill 35 of 2026–27
The National Security (State Threats) Bill would create new powers for the home secretary to designate bodies engaged in state threat activity, equivalent to the proscription of terrorist organisations under the Terrorism Act 2000. The bill would create three new offences associated with designation of supporting, assisting, or receiving material benefit from a designated body. These offences would carry sentences of up to 14 years’ imprisonment.
Approximate read time: 30 minutes
The government contends these powers will disrupt and deter the activities of those engaged in state threats and those working with and supporting them. The legislation follows a 2025 review of counter-terrorism legislation by Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of state threats legislation. That review identified limitations in the terrorism proscription regime when applied to state bodies and concluded that the National Security Act 2023 was less effective at disrupting proxies than foreign intelligence services. Mr Hall recommended the creation of a classification power for those engaged in state threats equivalent to terrorism proscription.
Ministers have determined that the powers in the bill should be made available “as soon as reasonably practicable”. As a result, the legislation has been fast-tracked, with all House of Common stages of the bill taking place on 17 June 2026. The bill was not amended in the Commons, though several opposition amendments were moved to a vote and defeated upon division. These included amendments on tackling alleged loopholes for offences planned in the UK but committed overseas and on potential defences on activity being tied to conduct prejudicial to the UK. The government maintained these amendments were unnecessary and that the provisions of the bill accounted for such circumstances.
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