IRGC proscription exposes British government's double standards

The UK is set to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under the new National Security (State Threats) Act 2026, which received Royal Assent last week.

The government said:

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR) and Russia’s GRU Volunteer Corps will become the first bodies designated under landmark new state threats powers. If approved by Parliament later this week, those conducting acts of sabotage including arson on behalf of these groups could face life imprisonment.

However, this move was met with accusations of hypocrisy, as critics pointed to the UK, which has turned a blind eye to the genocidal actions of the Israel Occupation Force (IOF), forces in which Britons have served, while continuing to arm Israel.

More than 2,000 Britons served in the IOF during the Gaza genocide, Declassified UK has reported.

Your Party’s Zarah Sultana pointed this out over X.

What about the genocidal Israeli Defence Forces? https://t.co/j6mBtnCdKW

— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) July 13, 2026

Journalist Hamza Yusuf asked the same question.

When will the IDF be proscribed? https://t.co/82XbbeFAqE

— Hamza Yusuf (@Hamza_a96) July 13, 2026

Journalist Ammar Kazmi lamented the influence of the Zionist lobby behind the decision.

Britain has been completely colonised by the Zionists. This is utterly absurd. https://t.co/qIk5QU2Wbv

— Ammar Kazmi 🇵🇸 (@AmmarKazmi) July 13, 2026

Sarcastic welcome to the news

Genocide scholar Martin Shaw sarcastically noted on X that, by the government’s own logic, a ban on the IOF, which exports terror across the Middle East, should presumably be next.

Presumably a ban on the Israel Defence Forces, which export terror across the Middle East and have a demonstrated malign influence on the British armed forces, will follow. https://t.co/SXTqPFmpNU

— Martin Shaw (@martinshawx) July 13, 2026

Journalist Aaron Bastani also used humour and sarcasm to note the event, sharing a video of the IRGC saying it would soon land someone sharing the video in prison.

The British government is set to ‘proscribe’ the IRGC.

When it does sharing this video might land you with a prison sentence.

🤡 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/g0mJjJV3ab

— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) July 13, 2026

A good day for the Israel lobby

Board of Deputies of British Jews “warmly welcomed” the decision and thanked Keir Starmer.

President Phil Rosenberg was outside Downing Street today and welcomed the government’s announcement of extra funding for Jewish community security and the proscription of the IRGC, which they have long called for; they posted on X.

The government today also announced over a quarter of a billion-pound investment to “increase policing in Jewish communities after a spate of violent attacks.”

Lee Harpin of Jewish News said:

Keir Starmer used his speech in the Downing St garden at an emotional farewell with members of the Jewish community to confirm that the Home Secretary will be using her new powers under the National Security (Hostile State) Act 2026 to designate the IRGC as a terrorist group.

Jewish Labour Movement chair Ella Rachel Rosedelivered a fine introductory speech at the event. Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenburg presented the PM with a kiddish cup. The PM and Courts Minister Sarah Sackman looked close to tears as they reflected in the fight to rid Labour of antisemitism

Harpin added that there was “plenty of scepticism about incoming Andy Burnham amongst some attendees. But also a willingness to be proven wrong.”

A perfect parting act by the self-confessed Zionist Starmer as the PM.

Featured image via the Canary