The National Security Bill’s blind spot: how the UK government’s new laws could endanger humanitarian work 

What is the National Security (State Threats) Bill? 

The National Security (State Threats) Bill 2026 is currently being fast-tracked through the UK Parliament, and is due to undergo its final stages in the House of Lords today, Tuesday 30^th June. The Bill, which builds on the National Security Act 2023, would give the Secretary of State new powers to ‘designate’ bodies involved in threatening action or behaviour here in the UK, that are linked to foreign powers. It also introduces a set of new criminal offences linked to those ‘designated’ bodies – meaning that any person who “support[s], assist[s] and obtain[s] material benefits” from a ‘designated’ body could face up to 14 years in prison per offence. 

However, while the Bill’s intention is to keep UK citizens safe, Bond and other NGOs, legal experts and Members of Parliament have warned that it could have unintended consequences. Without amendments, the Bill could hinder UK organisations carrying out their vital work delivering lifesaving humanitarian assistance, and responding to crises and conflict around the world.  

How could the Bill affect NGOs? 

The UK is home to some of the most experienced and sophisticated humanitarian and peacebuilding organisations in the world, and, in times of crisis, UK NGOs are often present alongside first responders. However, the new powers proposed in this Bill mean that UK aid workers could potentially face prison just for doing their jobs. It is entirely plausible that under this new law, a foreign government, or even parts of that government, could be designated. If a UK humanitarian organisation were already operating in that country, it could realistically fall foul of the law simply for paying taxes, meeting with, or even receiving information from, a government official in that country. 

As Lord Anderson, a former UK independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, warned, this Bill “would place in potential jeopardy a charity… which could not lawfully ask the IRGC or its agents where the landmines were laid, or a conflict resolution organisation that needs to engage with designated bodies as part of its work.” 

If this Bill passes without adequate protections for humanitarian activities, it could seriously impact the ability and willingness of UK charities to respond to crises and natural disasters. The impacts on NGOs of the Terrorism Act 2000 have been comprehensively documented, including by independent think tanks such as Chatham House – and include extensive debanking, difficulties supporting basic public health, education, water and other service provision, and more.  

This means that, if this Bill were to pass in its current form, financial transfers could be blocked, supplies left undelivered, or staff unable to reach communities with lifesaving support. Jonathan Hall KC, the UK’s Independent Reviewer of State Threat Legislation, warns that “if a humanitarian agency is operating in an area controlled by a designated body which has been expressly named by the Secretary of State, this fact alone may unnerve trustees and banks.”  

With NGOs unable to assist, people around the world could be left to suffer. 

How can NGOs be protected? 

The Bill’s explanatory notes detail that, in a court of law, providing humanitarian assistance would be seen as an adequate defence against the new laws. The Home Secretary recently confirmed in the House of Commons that “humanitarian activity will not be caught by any of the Bill’s measures.” However, donors, banks, and private sector suppliers to humanitarian agencies often prefer legal certainty to be written into the legislation itself, to feel adequately assured, and to avoid the ‘chilling effect’. For avoidance of any doubt, it’s important that the humanitarian exemption be reflected in the Bill itself.  

The Bill will be debated in the House of Lords this afternoon, where a number of peers, including Lord Alton and Baroness D’Souza, have tabled amendments to make provision for vital humanitarian activities, and work that prevents and resolves conflict in fragile states, to continue unimpeded.  

While the first responsibility of any government is to keep its citizens safe, civilians living in crisis around the world, including children and older people, should not be left to suffer because of the UK’s efforts to do so. By accepting an amendment for adequate humanitarian protection, the UK government can take decisive action to protect communities at home, while ensuring the UK retains its proud tradition of helping those around the world that need our support.