Labour slammed for ‘putting British lives at risk’ over terror ruling

Labour have been blasted for ‘putting British lives at risk’ for refusing to put an Iranian military wing on the terror list despite the shocking death toll in recent protests. Human rights agencies have said nearly 6,000 demonstrators were killed during a brutal regime crackdown in Iran earlier this month.

In response, the European Union announced earlier this week it would add the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its list of terrorist organisations, but Britain is still “dragging its feet”. Former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced last May that powers would be created to proscribe state-backed groups if they are deemed to pose a threat to Britain after recommendations by terror watchdog Jonathan Hall KC. Because the IRGC is a state-backed body, UK law for proscribing it as a terrorist cell would need to be amended but Downing Street refused to be drawn on whether serious consideration had been given to proscribing the IRGC in particular when asked by journalists on Friday.

“It’s the long-standing position of successive governments that we don’t comment on matters related to proscription,” a No 10 spokesman said. But Kasra Aarabi, director of IRGC research at United Against Nuclear Iran, told the Daily Express: “The so-called technical legal excuse is just that—an excuse. The IRGC clearly meets the threshold for proscription in the UK, but taking this step requires political will, which is currently absent in Keir Starmer’s government. The failure to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist organisation is putting British lives and national security at risk.”

A spokesperson for Jewish Leadership Council said: “This week, the European Union announced it will add Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its list of terrorist organisations

“Labour promised to proscribe the IRGC while in opposition. In May last year, the then Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced plans to create a new power of proscription to cover state threats. Eight months later, no such legislation has been produced to plug this clear gap in our national security infrastructure. In response to the EU’s action, we have read reports that the legislation will not be expedited. That is not good enough.

“The time for inaction is over. Urgency must be shown for our national security and to send a clear message to the regime in Tehran. The government must bring forward this legislation immediately, and use this power to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”

A Number 10 spokesperson said it was a “long-standing position of successive governments that we don’t comment on matters related to proscription”. The official said the UK was prepared to impose more sanctions if the crackdown persists and “continues to work with our international partners to tackle the threats posed by Iran”.

Lord Walney, a cross-bench Peer who who formerly acted as the British government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption, said: “There is no excuse for more foot dragging in the face of this Islamist terror enterprise. The IRGC pose an immediate danger on British streets, they should be proscribed without delay.”

During a visit to south London on Friday, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey told the Daily Express: “This appalling terrorist organisation should have been prescribed years ago.

“I argued to the last Conservative government, to several prime ministers in the last Conservative government that they needed to do this, to get serious with Iran and the malign influence that this organisation has had across our world, including in the UK, and they didn’t.

“And I think the Starmer Labour government hasn’t either. Recently I redoubled our call and pushed it yet again, and it’s interesting that Europe is at long last doing this.

“Britain should have done it a long time ago, and the Conservatives should hold their head in shame for failing to do it, and now Labour’s got to get tougher. I just hope they get on and do this. It’s so obvious. It’s the right thing to do.”

Vahid Beheshti, an Iranian dissident and democracy campaigner based in Britain, said: “It is hard to fathom why the UK has taken so long to come to terms with the fact that the IRGC is a terror enterprise responsible for violence against Iranians, bloodshed across the Middle East and kidnapping and assassination plots in the UK. How will the UK look the people of Iran in the eye during their hour of greatest need when even today they continue to drag their feet and won’t proscribe the IRGC immediately.”