Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism

Commemorates the Minister's legislation while questioning if there are sufficient resources for police forces to monitor those involved in such activities.

The Opposition's priority is to keep the public and country safe, supporting this proscription order for clarity and direction against FKD. Acknowledges FKD as a white supremacist group with international reach, targeting vulnerable individuals online and physically through propaganda. Supports the need for robust and agile processes in tackling such extremism, urging government action on far-right terrorism strategy and dealing with other violent groups like the Order of Nine Angles.

The Scottish National party supports proscription orders against FKD due to its risks as a white supremacist group. Acknowledges the warning from Jonathan Hall QC about new forms of terrorism including far-right extremism and the need for vigilance. Supports the statutory test being met, endorsing the Home Secretary's decision.

I wholeheartedly welcome this order and endorse the comments by my hon. Friends and from the SNP Benches. Across the House, one thing we all have in common is the view that these groups are utterly despicable and need the strongest action to be taken against them. The tactics, ideology, and methods that the Minister rightly outlined in relation to FKD are deeply disturbing, and are unfortunately shared by a range of other organisations. While this order is welcome, the description that the Minister gave of antisemitism, racism and encouragement of attacks on minority groups, our police and public figures, as well as the use of the online world to groom and radicalise individuals into these organisations, are an all-too-familiar tale.

I urge the Minister to look carefully at groups that are using similar tactics or ideologies, or that pose a similar clear and present danger to the citizens of this country, and indeed globally. I commend the remarks about the Order of Nine Angles. That group was rightly raised by HOPE not Hate, which does incredible work on this issue.

I share the concerns of my hon. Friend the Member for St Helens North about the length of time that it is taking the Government to proscribe these organisations, even in the face of very clear, undisputed evidence about their activities. The system is simply moving too slowly.

I would like to begin by welcoming the ban of the FKD. Far-right terrorism is the fastest growing terror threat in this country, and that is why Government action is very welcome. There is, however, an enforcement gap. For proscription measures to have the maximum possible impact, they cannot become an end in themselves.

While this proposed ban is welcome, I firmly believe that another neo-Nazi organisation already mentioned more than once in the debate—the Order of Nine Angles —represents a greater threat to UK citizens. As parliamentary chair of HOPE not Hate, an anti-fascist campaign group, I co-ordinated a letter from a group of cross-party MPs to the Home Secretary.

Welcomed overall support for the measure from the Opposition, acknowledged the constructive tone struck by Labour and SNP representatives. Emphasised that criminalising joining an organisation should only occur with significant evidence of extremism, violence, and inciting hatred. Assured the shadow Security Minister about the process dealing with aliases via a negative instrument rather than full proscription. Mentioned the growing threat highlighted online and the importance of recognising changes in methods used by terrorist groups moving to smaller social media platforms. Acknowledged the support for tackling these issues but cautioned against taking dissolution proclamations at face value without intelligence confirmation.