Keir Starmer isn't waiting around for the next security breach. Following a series of arson attacks on Jewish community sites and mounting evidence of foreign interference, the Prime Minister is moving to close a massive loophole in British law. For years, the UK's terror laws were built to stop groups like Al-Qaeda or ISIS—non-state actors working in the shadows. But what happens when the "terrorist" is actually an arm of a foreign government?
Right now, the law doesn't have a clean way to handle that. If a group is part of a sovereign state, like Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the UK has historically hesitated to label them "terrorists" because of the diplomatic mess it creates. Starmer is done with that hesitation. He’s promising new powers that will let the government proscribe state-backed groups just as easily as they do independent terror cells.
The IRGC is the first target
It’s no secret that the IRGC has been a thorn in the side of British intelligence for a long time. They’ve been linked to assassination plots on UK soil and harassment of journalists at Iran International. Recently, a firebomb attack at a synagogue in north-west London brought the issue to a boiling point.
Under current rules, the government can sanction individuals, but proscribing an entire branch of a foreign military is legally murky. Starmer’s new legislation, expected in the upcoming King’s Speech, will change the game. By creating "proscription-like" powers specifically for state actors, the government can freeze assets and make it a criminal offense to support these groups without needing to navigate the old 2000 Terrorism Act, which wasn't designed for this.
It’s about giving the police more than just a slap on the wrist to work with. If you’re caught helping a state-backed group carry out "proxy" operations in London or Manchester, you won't just face a travel ban. You'll face prison.
Why this took so long
You might wonder why previous governments didn't just do this years ago. The answer is basically "embassy politics." Foreign Office officials have long warned that proscribing a group like the IRGC would lead to Iran shutting down the UK embassy in Tehran. That embassy is a vital "listening post" for Western intelligence.
There’s also the issue of what happens if the government changes. In Syria, after Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in late 2024, the UK found itself in a weird spot because some of the groups involved in the new administration were already on the terror list. It made diplomacy almost impossible. Starmer’s team thinks they’ve found a middle ground—a new legal category that provides the bite of terror laws without the permanent diplomatic "dead end" of traditional proscription.
National security isn't just about bombs anymore
Starmer’s push is part of a much broader shift in how the UK defines safety. We aren't just looking for suitcases left on trains. The threat has moved to "hybrid warfare"—cyber-attacks, disinformation, and state-sponsored arson.
- Foreign Influence Registration: The government is already forcing people working for certain foreign powers to register their activities or face jail time.
- Martyn’s Law: Just this month, the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 gained Royal Assent. It forces venues to have actual plans for terror attacks, moving the burden of safety onto the people running the buildings.
- Strategic Defence Review: A full-scale overhaul of how we spend our 2.5% GDP defense budget is coming by June 2026.
What this means for you
If you're a business owner or someone living in a high-risk area, these laws are going to feel very real, very fast. The new powers aren't just for show; they’re designed to make the UK a "hard target" for foreign regimes.
Don't expect the IRGC to go quietly. When the legislation hits Parliament in July, expect a lot of noise from Tehran and potentially more "proxy" activity as they try to flex their muscles before the door shuts.
The best thing you can do is stay informed about the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) if you do business with state-linked entities. If you run a venue that holds more than 200 people, start looking at your Martyn’s Law compliance now. The 24-month implementation period has started, and the days of "optional" security are over. Starmer is betting that by tightening the law, he can stop the chaos before it reaches your front door.
