Muslim Brotherhood

Earl of Courtown Excerpts

Monday 5th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)]

I am grateful to the noble Baroness. The Question from the noble Lord, Lord Godson, was on the specific question of proscription, which was the request. There are many other actions the Government can take, including sanctions and intelligence-led actions, against organisations that threaten the United Kingdom or citizens within it. The issue of proscription is one we keep under review. The issue is one the noble Baroness has raised, and we will always look at those issues in the interests of the United Kingdom as a whole.

[The Earl of Courtown (Con)]

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for saying that the position of the Muslim Brotherhood is under review by His Majesty’s Government. There is legitimate concern that this has led to networks and ideologies spreading to European countries, including our own. Are the Government confident they have a complete and accurate picture of the full extent of the brotherhood’s infiltration into religious, educational and community organisations in Britain?

[Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)]

The Government keep proscription under review and do not comment upon it, so I am not commenting for or against proscription; we always keep that under review and will make an announcement in due course if one is required. But we always examine, as the noble Earl has rightly identified, where there are threats to the United Kingdom. Going back to the question from the noble Baroness, Lady Cash, we can take action on a range of issues to do with sanctions and criminal activity, and in co-operation with our European partners and the United States, where the United Kingdom’s interests or citizens are at threat. We keep that under review, and I give the noble Earl that assurance.