"I am absolutely delighted that the Home Secretary has taken the decision to proscribe the Hezbollah organisation in full, something I have repeatedly been calling for since 2015.

It was at that time that I witnessed the flying of Hezbollah flags at a protest against a visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I lodged my concerns with the Metropolitan Police.

Since that day, I have written to all three Home Secretaries, including the current Prime Minister and when Sajid Javid was first appointed in April of last year, I wrote to him demanding that the political wing of Hezbollah is proscribed under the Terrorism Act.

Despite receiving disappointing responses, I continued to fight for this ban through every means possible. I presented a petition in the House of Commons on behalf of almost 1,000 constituents. I have spoken out and pressed Ministers during debates in the Chamber. I also attended the annual counter-demonstration of the Al Quds Day rally every year and made clear to those attending that I would continue my efforts.

During the last election, I promised my constituents I would continue my fight to see the proscription of Hezbollah under the Terrorism Act, and I am pleased to be able to say that this promise has been delivered.

I will now be writing to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service to ensure that the law will now be enforced appropriately."

See below for previous news stories on Matthew's campaign to proscribe Hezbollah: 

- https://www.matthewofford.co.uk/news/matthew-repeats-calls-proscription…;

- https://www.matthewofford.co.uk/campaigns/petition-proscribe-hezbollah-…

- https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/mp-calls-on-the-government-to-ban-he…;

- https://cfoi.co.uk/matthew-offord-mp-welcomes-barnet-councils-proscript…

- https://cfoi.co.uk/matthew-offord-mp-raises-concerns-over-hezbollah-fla…;

- https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/15471651.mp-calls-for-constituents-…;