The Lords supported the National Security (State Threats) Bill in principle, but pressed ministers to tighten its drafting and limit the risk that new offences could catch charities, humanitarian groups and conflict-mediation work. Peers also questioned whether the bill should go further on organisations linked to hostile states such as Iran’s IRGC and the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department; the minister promised a formal assurance on exemptions, said any future body designations would need Parliament’s approval, and confirmed passport seizure powers would be left to later legislation.

#National Security (State Threats) Bill, #Second Reading, #National Security, #State Threats, #Foreign Interference, #IRGC, #Home Office, #Humanitarian Aid, #Transnational Repression, #Cybersecurity, #Iran, #China, #Russia

Ministers were urged to review the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office and strengthen protections for Hong Kongers in the UK after two men were jailed for helping a foreign intelligence service; the Government said the office still has a legitimate trade role, but promised continued monitoring, tighter vetting and police support for people at risk of transnational repression.

The Commons supported the principle of allowing ministers to designate groups linked to hostile states such as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard or Wagner and criminalise some support for them, but MPs warned that the Bill may be unclear, hard to prosecute and weak on oversight, human rights and humanitarian protections; Labour did not force a vote and called for changes in the Lords.

Chinese Embassy appears here as a parliamentary thread from the Lords Chamber on 15 Jan 2026, with 10 speakers contributing 18 speeches.

#National Security, #Planning System, #Espionage and Surveillance, #UK China Relations, #Transnational Repression, #Data Infrastructure Security

Chinese Embassy appears here as a parliamentary thread from the Commons Chamber on 13 Jan 2026, with 34 speakers contributing 70 speeches.

#National Security, #Planning Decisions, #Espionage, #Transnational Repression, #UK China Relations, #Critical National Infrastructure

Defending Democracy Taskforce appears here as a parliamentary thread from the Lords Chamber on 12 Jan 2026, with 9 speakers contributing 18 speeches.

#Election Security, #Foreign Interference, #Political Intimidation, #Transnational Repression, #Disinformation