UK Government is reviewing the national threat level system, Home Office security minister Dan Jarvis told the House of Commons in a debate on May 14.
As Mr Jarvis went on to say, the threat level ‘captures only the threat from terrorism’, hence the review, ‘to ensure that it remains fully relevant and that we are communicating as clearly as possible with the public about the national security threats we face’. Stating that ‘national security is the first duty of Government’, Mr Jarvis was giving a statement on ‘recent national security developments’, including the raising of the national terrorism threat level, after the Golders Green stabbing, from substantial (the level since February 2022) to severe. Also aired by the minister, his shadow for the Conservatives Matt Vickers, and other members of Parliament, were acts of violence against the Jewish community, and transnational repression from China and Iran, as examples of ‘state threat activity’; and in Jarvis’ words ‘wider use of both terrorist groups and proxies by state actors, including Russia’. Mr Jarvis said that Home Office officials have been working closely with the (UK official) National Protective Security Authority ‘to deliver new guidance on transnational repression’, such as by China against former Hong Kong residents now in the UK.
Martynโs Law
Mr Jarvis spoke of Labour having ‘delivered our manifesto commitment to improve the security of public events and venues across the UK through Martynโs Law, and free expert advice, guidance and training are available to owners and operators of venues and public spaces through the ProtectUK website‘. More on Martyn’s Law in the June 2026 edition of Professional Security Magazine.
King’s Speech
The debate came a day after the King’s Speech when King Charles III in the House of Lords set out the Labour Government’s proposed legislation for the next Parliamentary session: 35 bills and draft bills included a related National Security Bill and Tackling State Threats Bill. In the debate on the address, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “This Kingโs Speech gives us the strength we need โ the economic security, energy security and national security to control our future in a chaotic world.”
Alternative
The Conservatives published their own, ‘Alternative King’s Speech‘ which said that ‘serious crime is rising on Labourโs watch’ and ‘knife crime remains at alarming levels’. Among proposals was a Take Back Our Streets Bill, including โImmediate Justiceโ assignments giving the police the power to issue community sentences for lower-level offences, such as criminal damage, minor or common assault, or being drunk and disorderly, to clean graffiti and litter; and a roll out of Live Facial Recognition as routine in 100 ‘highest crime areas’.
Minister resigns
Sir Keir Starmer meanwhile was embattled. The Home Office minister for violence against women and girls (VAWG) Jess Phillips resigned, complaining of a lack of drive by the Government; and was replaced at once by the Bolsover MP Natalie Fleet, who entered the Commons at the 2024 election and whose campaigning and speaking about sexual violence included an amendment to the Victims and Courts Bill last year to remove parental rights from fathers whose children are conceived through rape.
Think-tank reports
The right-wing think-tank Policy Exchange has published a pair of reports on what it calls ‘Islamopopulism‘, a populist movement voting for Muslim independent councillors and MPs.
Photo by Mark Rowe: counter terror policing poster urging travellers to beware of and report unusual behaviour under the banner of ‘See It Say It Sorted’, Crewe station.
