Starmer pledges to bring forward law proscribing Iran’s Revolutionary Guards

Keir Starmer has promised to proscribe Iran’s Revolutionary Guards by introducing legislation in the next session of parliament in July.

On a trip to Kenton united synagogue in north-west London on Thursday, the prime minister said he wanted “to make Britain a country where our Jewish community feels safe”.

The synagogue in Harrow was subject to an arson attack on Saturday night, which caused minor smoke damage but no injuries, according to the Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism. A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, pleaded guilty at Westminster magistrates court to arson not endangering life on Tuesday.

In an interview with the Jewish Chronicle, Starmer said he was very worried about the increasing use of proxy agents by the Iranian regime. He said legislation to enable the proscription of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), which Labour pledged to achieve in opposition, would be brought forward in “a few weeks” for the start of the parliamentary session in July.

Asked about the prospect of proscribing the group, he said: “In relation to malign state actors more generally, proscription, we do need legislation in order to take necessary measures, and that is legislation that we’re bringing forward as soon as we can. We go into a new session in a few weeks’ time, and we’ll bring that legislation forward.”

Forensic officers at the Kenton united synagogue in Harrow, north-west London, which was left with smoke damage after an arson attack. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

An Iran-linked group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, claimed responsibility for the Kenton attack.

Responding to figures this week that show the number of British Jews emigrating to Israel is at a 40-year high, Starmer said: “I want to make Britain a country where our Jewish community feels safe, as they have done for a very long time, and into the future. I’m determined to do that. That means making clear that we stand alongside our Jewish community.”