Bolton calls Muslim Brotherhood a "terrorist organisation" and "enemy" of Britain as proscription debate returns

Henry Bolton, Restore Britain's National Security Spokesman, has described the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation and an enemy of the United Kingdom, as calls for it to be banned in Britain grew.

In a post on X at 21:02 BST on Saturday 10 October, Mr Bolton wrote: "A lot of talk today again about proscribing the Muslim Brotherhood."

He continued: "Let me be clear, the Muslim Brotherhood is religious extremist and terrorist organisation that is an enemy of the United Kingdom, the British public, our democratic system, the rule of law and our way of life."

When one X user replied that it was "probably about 2-3 years too late", Mr Bolton answered at 21:18: "I don't care. It will still be done."

The Muslim Brotherhood is not proscribed in the UK. It does not appear on the Home Office's list of banned organisations, which was last updated in July 2026. Under the Terrorism Act 2000, the Home Secretary may proscribe a group if they believe it is "concerned in terrorism" and that a ban is proportionate.

The renewed debate follows a European Parliament vote on Thursday 8 October. MEPs backed, by 381 votes to 167, a resolution calling on the EU Council to add entities and individuals linked to the Brotherhood to the EU terrorist list where the legal criteria are met. The resolution does not itself list anyone. That requires a decision by a national authority and the unanimous agreement of all 27 member states.

On Friday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wrote on X: "The European Parliament just voted to call for the Muslim Brotherhood to be added to the EU's terror list. So why on earth haven't we?" He added: "Reform will proscribe it as a terrorist organisation."

In January 2026 the United States designated the Lebanese, Egyptian and Jordanian chapters of the Brotherhood as terrorist entities. The US Treasury said the Egyptian and Jordanian branches had provided material support to Hamas.

The UK government has not ruled proscription in or out. Asked about the US move in the House of Lords in January, Home Office minister Lord Hanson of Flint said: "We keep the issue of proscription under review." He added that the government would "not comment on the specific issue of proscription at this time".

A review commissioned by David Cameron and published in December 2015 found that "aspects of Muslim Brotherhood ideology and tactics, in this country and overseas, are contrary to our values and have been contrary to our national interests and our national security". The movement was not banned afterwards.

Mr Bolton did not say how, or on what timetable, Restore would seek a ban.

Image: Steph Gray, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons