THE BRITISH

PARLIAMENT-HOUSE
OF COMMONS
 PAGE 01

Table of
Contents

1.     Letter from the Chair

2.     Introduction
3.     Members of the Parliament
(Delegate expectations)
4.     Special procedure
Topic: Counter terrorism in Great Britain
a.     History of terrorism in the United
Kingdom
b.     Threat of terrorism at Home
c.     Role and Scope of the Security
Agencies
d. Border Security and Migrant Crisis
6.     QARMAs
7.     Recommended bibliography
8.     References
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1. Letter from the Chair.

Dear Members of Parliament,
 
It is our honour to welcome you to EAFITMUN and to the committee. We are Eduardo Tisnes
Zapata, law student at EAFIT University and Federico Freydell Mesa, law student at El Rosario
University, and we will be chairing EAFITMUN’s House of Commons. The last few years, have put
this House under pressure for reasons involving the exit of the United Kingdom from the
European Union, overseas and domestic terrorism and security crises; the flow of migrants from
the Middle East and Africa and the lack of political consensus between the Government and the
Opposition.
 
The challenges you will face in the committee will not only require from you background
academic knowledge, but they will demand your best abilities to negotiate between parties and
to propose solutions that work best for the British people, meeting halfway and reaching across
the House. As it is obvious we cannot have 650 MPs, therefore we will try to reproduce the
Commons’ majorities and parties representation in the House. Nevertheless, no party will hold an
overall majority, making solution and policymaking more challenging.

Even though the main focus of this committee will be counter terrorism and border security, we
expect the House to be able to address all sorts of issues that may arise. In addition we expect
the highest level of debates, both in and out of the House Chamber, and the best bills you can
propose and negotiate!
 
Finally, and although this is an innovative and challenging committee, we hope that in the three
days of debate and negotiation, you enjoy the EAFITMUN experience, meet new people and reach
possible and innovative solutions.
 
We are both looking forward to meeting you all,
 
The Chair,
 
Eduardo Tisnes Zapata Federico Freydell Mesa
etisnes@eafit.edu.co federicofreydell42@gmail.com
 
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2. Introduction
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Through these functions,the House can have a close
Parliament of the United Kingdom. In addition, it is control of Government. Nevertheless, regarding
the public elected house of Parliament, in contrast some affairs of national security, the Government is
to the House of Lords, where members are not obliged to inform or brief the House before. 
appointed by Her Majesty the Queen, who are  
hereditary peers or members of the Church of Making laws is a function shared with the Lords,
England. The House is located in the Palace of albeit,n since 1911, the upper house lost its veto
Westminster in London, and its official name is right over the Commons, and was restricted in its
the  Honourable the Commons of the United capacity to delay legislation. Nonetheless, while
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in laws may origin in the Lords as well, since 1911
Parliament Assembled (Parliament, 2018).  important laws come from the Commons and are
  usually approved by the peers.
Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected in
general elections that are  usually heldevery 5
years. Historically, snap elections could be called
at any moment by the Prime Minister; however,
after the Fixed-term Parliaments Act of 2011
2.1. History
(Parliament, 2011), those powers were greatly
Although the origins of Parliament can be traced
limited. Today, snap elections can be called after
back to the Norman Conquest and the reign of King
the Parliament is dissolved as a result of a non
William I, the most relevant event occurred in 1215,
confidence vote (which usually occurs in the case
with the sealing of Magna Carta by King John I. The
of a hung parliament or political gridlock), or
Great Charter (alternative name given to Magna
through the vote of two-thirds of the vote of
Carta) was the result of ten days of negotiations
Parliament. A hung Parliament occurs when no
between the King and rebel Barons; the Barons had
party has an overall majority of 326 MPs.
revolted over the excessive taxation and the
governance of the King. Even though the King had
The main four functions of the House consist in
an organised administrative system (Britannica,
(a) checking and challenging the work of the
2018), the Barons pushed as well for the
Government, (b) making and amending laws, (c) recognition of individual liberties and the
debating current affairs relevant to the country acknowledging that law applied to everyone,
and (d) revising Government spending and funding including the Monarch. The Charter of 1215 was the
(Parliament, 2018). first of a series of documents declaring the “rule of
law” in England, setting the foundations for a
representative government.
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Parliamentary rights over the Crown were In 1911 the Parliament Act was passed after the
reaserted in 1688 with the Glorious Revolution. Lord’s rejection of the “People’s Budget”; the Act
One year later Parliament passed the Bill of removed the Lord’s right to veto bills coming from
Rights, a declaration that embodied a series of the Commons. The House of Lords can now only
individual liberties and public duties related to delay legislation related to money by one month and
religion and the Crown. In 1707 both Parliaments other legislation by two years. They can only veto
of England and Scotland passed the Acts of Union, bills extending the life of Parliament. Although, bills
uniting England and Scotland and giving birth to may originate from any House, important bills
Great Britain, both Parliaments united and for the usually come from the Commons.
first time 45 Scottish MPs sat at Westminster
(Parliament, 2010). Post-war Parliament was not reformed very often.
PM Harold Macmillan introduced Prime Minister’s
As King George II, from the House of Hannover, Questions in 1961, where the entire House can
lived outside the country, he appointed Robert inquire the Government on current affairs, a
Walpole First Lord of the Treasury, he was in tradition that has been held weekly by all
charge of His Majesty’s Government and thus, Governments ever since. Since then, the House of
considered to be the first Prime Minister (PM). Commons has sought to be more open to the public,
The position of Prime Minister has existed ever allowing strangers to enter the House as spectators
since under the principle of “primus inter pares”, and broadcasting debates by radio and television
first among equals; for this, the Prime Minister since 1990.    Under the Blair Government and its
has always been a member of either house of policy of devolution of powers, extensive
Parliament and holds the office of the First Lord prerogatives were transferred to the Scottish
of the Treasury as well.    As it happened with Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the
Scotland, the Act of Union of 1800 unified the National Assembly for Wales in 1999. That same
Parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland; 100 Irish year, the House of Lords Act gets Royal Assent, this
MPs were sent to Westminster. In 1801, the first restricted the number of hereditary peers to 92 in
Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain the House of Lords (Parliament, 2010).
and Ireland met (Parliament, 2010).
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2.2. The House of Lords 2.3. The Westminster System

The House of Lords is the upper house of the The Westminster System (WS) is the government
Parliament of the United Kingdom. As stated system ruling the United Kingdom and most of the
before, it has lost power in relation to the Commonwealth of Nations’ member states. It gets
Commons, but still, they can propose new laws its name from the tradition of government at
and debate on proposed bills by the Commons. Westminster Palace, that is of course, the British
They can still delay legislation and hold the Parliament (Public Service Commission of NSW,
Government accountable. Even though the House 2013). Although the United Kingdom does not have
of Lords still holds a significant role, the House of a written constitution, the group of laws and
Commons can pass bills and can seek directly traditions have developed the system and have set
Royal Assent without consulting the Lords. it as the structure of our government and political
Although the Lords can attend Commons’ sessions, system. 
they cannot vote or speak. The Queen, who can sit  
and participate at the House of Lords cannot The Westminster System (WS) has the following
enter the Commons’ Chamber. Members of the characteristics (Public Service Commission of NSW,
Royal Family holding titles of dukes, marquesses, 2013) (they have been adapted to the United
earls, viscounts, barons or baronets are entitled to Kingdom):
sit at the House of Lords.  
  a.     A head of state. In the UK, Her Majesty (HM)
Its members can either be part of    party or be Queen Elizabeth II. As a constitutional monarch, HM
crossbenchers, not officially joining a political the Queen holds limited political, but large
party. As the House of Commons, the House of ceremonial powers. In other countries with the WS
Lords has a Lord Speaker, elected among the the head of state might have the title of President,
members of the House. Governor-General, etc.
The House of Lords is made up of 785 peers that b.     A bicameral Parliament.
are divided between: c.     A Government formed with majority support in
the Lower House. In the United Kingdom,the Prime
a.          Lords Spiritual: Bishops, they cannot be Minister, leader of the government, is elected
partisan.  among MPs and he or she is the leader of the
b.     Lords Temporal: Life Peers (non-hereditary, largest party/coalition in the House of Commons. 
are appointed by Her Majesty on the advice of the
Government) and Hereditary Peers (after the
House of Lords Act of 1999 they were cut to only
92).
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d.     A Ministry made up by MPs at the Prime According to the Royal Household (2018) Her
Minister’s invitation. In the United Kingdom, the Majesty’s duties are “opening each new session of
Government and its Cabinet can be composed of Parliament, granting Royal Assent to legislation, and
other citizens from the House of Lords, the Public approving Orders and Proclamations through the
Service, the Armed Forces or even the Royal Privy Council”. As it was stated before, political
Family; the Cabinet exercises executive authority power residing in the Crown has decreased, Polish
in the country on behalf of HM the Queen. The Chancellor Jan Zamoyski said, “the King reigns, but
Ministry is accountable to Parliament.  does not govern” (The Polish Institute, 2018).
e.          An independent Public Service in charge of
the administration of the country, although it is
headed by the government it serves no specific
party. 2.5. Composition of the House
f.      An independent judiciary that interprets and Currently, the House of Commons has 650
applies the law. members, representing the 650 constituencies
(electoral districts) of the United Kingdom. Most
of MPs are members of a political party currently,
and since the 1920s, the two major political
2.4. The Queen in Parliament parties have been the Conservative Party and the
Labour Party. After each general election HM the
Although the relationship between Parliament and
Queen invites the party with a majority of 326 in
the Crown has not always been friendly, the
the Commons to form a government; if no party
Monarch’s relevance in parliamentary tradition is
reaches that majority, multiple parties can form a
still important. The United Kingdom’s legislature
coalition government or other parties can declare
exists under the principle of Queen In Parliament
themselves in “confidence and supply” of another
or Crown in Parliament (Royal, 2018). According to
party and help them reach a majority. For this,
this principle, the legislature consists of the House
after every general election a new government is
of Commons, the House of Lords and the Crown,
formed, no matter if it is from the same party or
that is HM the Queen. Formally the laws are
has the same person as Prime Minister. 
enacted and proclaimed by Her Majesty after they
get royal assent, so technically the term refers to
the Crown acting on advice of the Parliament.
Nevertheless, the last time a monarch refused to
approve a bill passed by both Houses of
Parliament was during Queen Anne’s Reign in the
18th Century. 
 
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After the 2017 General Election, the House of

2.6. The Speaker of the House
Commons’ composition is as follows:
The Speaker of the House has the duty of chairing
sessions of the House of Commons. He or she is
an elected Member of Parliament who other MPs
elect as Speaker. Although the Speaker is member
of a political party, he must remain impartial at all
time, as he is the highest authority in the House.
One of his roles is to represent the Commons to
the Monarch, the Lords and other officials, at
home and in the overseas. According to Parliament
(2010), by chairing debates, the Speaker has full
Figure 1. Parliamentary composition. Adapted from “Current authority to make sure MPs follow the rules of the
State of Parties” by Parliament, 2017. Parliament. Retrieved House during debates. This can include:
February 17th 2019, from  https://www.parliament.uk/mps-
lords-and-offices/mps/current-state-of-the-parties/. Open
a.     “Directing an MP to withdraw remarks if, for
Parliament Licence v3.0. 
example, they use abusive language
As to EAFITMUN’s House of Commons, the b.     Suspending the sitting of the House due to
composition is as follows: serious disorder
·     10 Conservative MPs. c.          Suspending MPs who are deliberately
·     8 Labour MPs. disobedient - known as naming 
·     3 Scottish National Party MPs. d.     Asking MPs to be quiet so Members can be
·     3 Democratic Unionist Party MPs. heard”
·     1 Liberal Democrat MP. (Parliament, 2010).
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3. Members of Parliament (delegate expectations).

First of all, it is important for the correct Although we wish all of this country’s problems
development of this committee, that all MPs have could be solved through one act of Parliament, they
read, studied and understood the special cannot. Bills need to be detailed and specific if they
procedure of the House. As Chair, we know it can address certain affairs of State. 
be hard to understand how this committee works,  
that is why we encourage you to ask every Nevertheless, the most important thing we expect
question you have. Before the the first session from you, is the respect and diplomatic spirit.
starts we will have a Q&A and an explanation of Remember that although all of you will represent
the procedure.  different political positions, EAFITMUN seeks to
  build bridges between delegates and to find
As we have said previously, MPs are expected to peaceful solutions among opposing sides. That is
be cooperative in order to find possible solutions why we expect from you solutions that transcend
that fit best to the issues and challenges the positions.
House and the Country face. It is important for
delegates to know that as the United Kingdom has
other political, judicial and economic stakeholders
such as Trade Unions, internationals partners, the
Lords, among others,  these might affect actions
among MPs. We expect from delegates to be
dynamic in the way you negotiate, knowing that
even though you represent    a constituency, your
party has also certain interests. 
 
MPs must be aware as well that some of them are
members of other structures as the Cabinet, the
Board of Trade, etc. This might help MPs taking
decisions and actions regarding their position as
secretaries and such. As well, MPs must know
what constituency they represent, this is
important as constituencies hold different stakes.
We invite MPs to be strategic and realistic in the
bills they propose. 
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4. Special Procedure
Due to its specialized nature, the House of B.   DEBATES.
Commons will operate with a procedure more The Speaker of the House has the right to choose
similar to that of the House of Commons in real any Member of Parliament to intervene within a
life than to that of a regular MUN Committee. Formal Debate or Moderated Caucus, which will
occur using the same rules of procedure as in any
A.   CODE OF CONDUCT. other committee in EAFITMUN. The procedural
Because of the fact that delegates will be difference between a regular commitee and the
representing Members of Parliament, and not the House of Commons, however, lies in the way a MP
delegations of States in the United Nations, there can request the Speaker to recognize them: the
is no restriction in the use of first-person Speaker can decide whether to use the placard
pronouns. In other words, delegates can refer to system or whether the more traditional system in
themselves as “I” and generally use the first which an MP requests the floor by standing up will
person in discourse. However, this does not mean be used.
that all parliamentary language is invalid within the  
House of Commons - all other points of During debate, Members of Parliament are allowed
parliamentary procedure still apply and the use of to express approval of the speaking MP’s
terms outside parliamentary conventions or any interventions. This will be done by a short,
blatantly disrespectful interventions will still be respectful and quiet utterance of the words “hear
sanctioned. hear”. That being said, the Chair will be able to
  point out at any point whether the noises being
Besides the ordinary norms of debate, Members made are disruptive, and call for order: after which
of Parliament are expected to never refer to each all such noises will be considered out of order.
other directly - in other words, the use of second-
person pronouns is prohibited. All speeches must
be addressed to the Speaker of the House, and
other Members of Parliament must be referred to
in the third person. Usually, the convention is to
call the Speaker of the House of Commons “Mr.
Speaker”; the Prime Minister must be referred to
as “the Prime Minister”; members from the same
party are usually referred to as “my right
honourable friend”; and members from the
opposite party are usually referred to as “the
Right Honourable Member of Parliament”.
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C.   BILLS. Bills can be presented by private organizations, Her

Bills are the legal documents drafted by the Majesty’s Government, or any individual Member of
Chamber with the intent of eventually becoming Parliament (MP). In the case of this committee, it is
Acts, legislative documents that have the same clear that all bills will be introduced by the present
weight as Laws in other legal systems. Bills can Members of Parliament, and must include the same
either be a proposal for the creation of a new law, essential elements as a regular resolution within the
or the modification of existing laws that the rules of procedure of EAFITMUN, with a
Chamber has decided must be modified. Broadly, preambulatory aspect that includes the essential
two kinds of bills exist: public bills (those that context of the bill, previous legal references that
change the law as it applies to the entirety of the must be taken into consideration when discussing
British public) and private bills (those that give the new bill and the intent of the legislator and
specific organisations broader powers than resolutive articles that tackle the problem in
generally allocated to the public or the question and introduce concrete solutions to the
Government). Occasionally, private bills affect the problem. 
broad aspects of society - these are called hybrid  
bills. The procedure for all three types of bills is To pass as Acts, bills must pass a comprehensive
identical. process of legislation and debate, which involves
several stages of procedure. First of all, occurs
Bills are introduced through either house of the a  reading, in which the author of the bill presents
British Parliament (although tax bills are always its contents, and opens a new debate. This debate
introduced to the House of Commons) and must has a series of specific steps that must be followed:
be, in theory, approved by both chambers and the
Monarch (although the House of Lords does not The MP that has drafted the bill (in the case of a
have the power to veto legislation any longer, and bill composed by several MPs or the
Royal Assent has only been refused a handful of Government, an official spokesperson chosen to
times in history). Once a bill is passed through represent the group) will present the content
both Chambers, it becomes a law. and general principles of the bill, and then issue
a short statement in favour of this bill.

A spokesman chosen by Her Majesty’s Most

Loyal Opposition must then issue a statement
that exposes the Opposition’s views on the Bill,
and whether they consider it should pass as an
Act or be archived.
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A period of debate is introduced in which all 1.     Members of Parliament can issue a motion to
members of Parliament have the right to take note to establish a new sub-topic in the
express their viewpoints on the bill, through a agenda, which will be discussed without the
period of moderated caucus. necessity of reaching an agreement or arriving at a
written document at the end. The motion to take
Eventually, the bill is voted upon: to become a note will work in the same way as a motion to
law, it must pass with a simple majority (half establish a moderated caucus.
plus one of those present).
  2.          In the case of a law being passed that the
The voting procedure of bills consists of the Members of Parliament disagree, they may propose
Speaker calling MPs to state their stance on a bill, a  prayer motion, at which point they request that
this after a motion to vote a bill is passed. A the Queen evaluate and maybe strike the new law.
“voice vote” system is used in the House; where That being said, the prayer motion is not very
MPs must express whether they support or not effective, as it has been a long time since the Queen
the bill. MPs in favour of the motions shall shout struck down a piece of legislation.
“aye”, those against, shall shout “no”. If there is no
clear majority, the Speaker or any MP may call a 3. In the case a law is passed that Members of
division. In a division, the Speaker will cry “Division, Parliament object to, they may also propose a Non-
clear the lobby!”, then all non MPs are expected to fatal motion, which is used to leave on the record
leave the House, and passed certain time each MP the particular disagreements the Members of
will be asked to approach the Chair and state their Parliament had.
vote.
Motions are passed with a single majority of the
D.   MOTIONS. votes. A “voice vote” system is used in the House;
The House of Commons will, in general, use here MPs are asked to express whether they
EAFITMUN’s motion system. That being said, support or not the motions. MPs in favour of the
Members of Parliament have a few additional motions shall shout “aye”, those against, shall shout
motions that can be used in the voting and “no”. If there is no clear majority, the Speaker may
debating process of a new bill (Parliament, 2019): use a conventional placard system.
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E.   THE SPEAKER.
The Speaker of the House of Commons is a
Member of Parliament who, after being chosen by
his or her colleagues at the beginning of each
Parliament (following a general election), is
awarded special faculties in his or her new role as
representative of the Commons. These new roles
include, but are not limited to: controlling debate,
deciding who can and cannot speak, deciding
which ammendments will be taken into
consideration, allowing Urgent Questions or
Emergency Debates, excercising the deciding vote
in the case of an exact tie, and upholding
parliamentay rules. The Speaker of the House, in
exchange, loses his or her right to vote in normal
parliamentary procedure, can no longer be a part
of the political party he or she once belonged to,
and cannot campaign in general elections.
(Institute for Government, 2019)
 
In this Committee, the role of Speaker will be held
by the Chair, who will be granting the floor to
Members of Parliament.
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5. Topic: Counter terrorism in Great Britain.

A. HISTORY OF TERRORISM IN THE UNITED During the Troubles, Ulster was site of deadly
KINGDOM. attacks by both Unionist and Republican
paramilitaries; bombings and attacks on Catholic
i. The Troubles (1969-1998). and Protestant churches, attacks against the Royal
The Troubles was a period in British history that Ulster Constabulary and the British Army, among
was marked by highly sectarian violence, mainly in others. London and other cities in Great Britain
Northern Ireland (or Ulster), but it expanded all were targets too, the capital was bombed repeated
over the country. It is possible to mark the times and many attacks on high profile politicians
beginning of the Troubles in August, 1969, when were common (BBC, 2018). The conflict ended with
British troops had to be deployed in Ulster after the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, proposed by
the riots in Derry. In this conflict, there were three PM Tony Blair and that saw a complete ceasefire in
sides (BBC, 2018): 2006. The Troubles resulted in around 3,500 deaths
(a)      Republican Paramilitaries: Catholics, with (CAIN, 2014), among combatants, senior British
many military organisations (IRA, IPLO, etc), military officers, senior politicians, one senior
seeked an end in British rule in Ulster, the member of the Royal Family and civilians.
unification of Ireland under a republic and the
dominance of Catholic faith. In Ulster, the great ii. Main Terrorist Attacks.
majority of the population is protestant.  Aside of attacks related to the Troubles, Britain has
(b)    Unionist paramilitaries: Mainly Protestants, been target of other terrorist acts. This section will
organised in armed groups as well (UVF, UDA, etc), include the most relevant attacks in British soil to
they were called Loyalists too for their support of 2019, this according to The Guardian (2018), The
a British Ulster and their loyalty to the British Telegraph (2017) and the BBC (2017).
Crown.  1.          Pan Am 103 bombing: December 21, 1988,
(c)   Governments of Britain and Ireland: Although Lockerbie - 270 killed.
many of the attacks occurred on British soil, the 2.     7/7 Attacks: July 7, 2005, London - 52 killed.
Republic of Ireland was a victim too. Both 3.          Glasgow Airport car attack: June 30, 2007,
governments seeked to maintain peace and Glasgow - 5 injured.
security and to tackle terrorist groups. 4.          Murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby: May 22, 2013,
London - 1 killed.
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5.     Leytonstone station knife attack: December The current crisis in the Middle East has increased
5, 2015, London. the risk of terrorist activities in Western nations,
6.     Murder of Jo Cox MP: June 16, 2016, London including the United Kingdom. In addition, Britain’s
- 1 killed. commitment to defeat extremism and radicalism,
7.          Westminster car attack: March 17, 2017, its engagements in Iraq, Afghanistan and other
London - 6 killed. conflicts, make it a very likely target for terrorist
8.          Manchester Arena Bombing: May 22, 2017, attacks (MI5, 2019). This has fire the alarms at
Manchester - 22 killed. the large amount of British citizens travelling to
9.          London Bridge car attack: June 3, 2017, and from countries and territories under the
London - 7 killed. influence of extremist groups. These particular
10.    Finsbury Park car attack: June 19, 2017, citizens are radicalised and set to perpetrate
London - 1 killed. terrorist attacks against the British people. About
11.  District line train attack: September 15, 2017, this, the Secret Service states (2019):
London - 51 injured.
The majority of terrorist attack plots in this
B. THREAT OF TERRORISM AT HOME. country have been planned by British residents.
  There are several thousand individuals in the UK
As stated in the section above, the United who support violent extremism or are engaged in
Kingdom has been target of terrorist attacks Islamist extremist activity. British nationals who
multiple times. Although in the past the biggest have fought for extremist groups overseas
terrorist threat came from Northern Ireland, continue to return to the UK, increasing the risk
nowadays the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant of terrorist attacks. Using skills acquired overseas,
(ISIL) and Al Qaida rank first in international they may organise attacks under direction from
terrorism (MI5, 2019). According to the outside the UK, or on their own initiative, or they
Metropolitan Police (2019), the threat of a might radicalise others to do so. While the
terrorist attack in the United Kingdom is “severe”, majority of returners will not mount attacks in the
that means that is highly likely to happen, on the UK, the large numbers involved mean it is likely
opposite, the threat from an attack from Northern that at least some of them will attempt to do so.
Irish terrorism is “moderate” meaning that
although it is possible, it is not likely.
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Not only British nationals working with extremist As terrorist wish to provoke the largest damage
groups as ISIL, but the so called lonewolves, are a they can, they seek places with large influx of
huge threat too; these represent a harder people, as happened in the 7/7 London Attacks
challenge to the security agencies as their actions when the London Tube was the main target.
are less planned. Aside of other methods of
recruiting Britons, social media has played an Since 2001, when the Terrorism Act of 2001 was
important role; the recent years have seen a surge enacted by Parliament, other 13 terrorism related
in the activity of radical groups in social media acts have been introduced into British legislature
(MI5, 2019).  (Legislation, 2019). These acts have given the
                      Terrorist plotting against the United Government and the security agencies the
Kingdom does not only consist of carrying out framework of dealing with possible terrorist
attacks, supporting terrorist organisations poses threats. They have as well expanded the criminal
also a threat as well to the wellbeing of the offences related to terrorism, allowing the
country. Support may be as well (a) the prosecution of more persons of interest. These
radicalisation of individuals to believe in terrorist acts have been praised by some as they showed
causes and actions, (b) helping raise funds for the way of how to deal and proceed to address
extremist organisations and individuals at home or terrorism, on the other hand some have called for
in the overseas and (c) helping in convincing a review of them saying they limit personal
British nationals to join foreign terrorist freedoms and give a free leash to the security
organisations in the Middle East (MI5, 2019). agencies. Others say that these laws are not
enough to cope with the terrorist menace.
According to the Security Service (MI5, 2019),
terrorists often target official government C. ROLE AND SCOPE OF THE SECURITY
locations and places frequented by large crowds AGENCIES.
and Westerners. It has been seen how terror plots  
usually aim to attack State property like The United Kingdom’s security relies on a series of
diplomatic venues, army facilities, police officers police and intelligence organisations that keep the
and members of the Armed Forces on guard duty; country safe from terrorist attacks, among other
an example of this is the 2017 Westminster Attack threats (The National Archives, retrieved 2019).
in London. The other main target for terrorism are These agencies prevent attacks but also react to
public places with large crowds; pubs, theatres, them. The most relevant agencies in fighting
national monuments, public transport, among terrorism in the United Kingdom are:
others. 
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a.     MI5. a.     GCHQ.
Also known as the Security Service, MI5 has the The Government Communications Headquarters, is
task of protecting the country from (a) terrorism, responsible of providing the Government with
(b) espionage, (c) cyber attacks and (d) weapons signals intelligence (SIGINT), which means
of mass destruction (MI5, 2019). In opposition to collecting communications by the interception of
the SIS (MI6), MI5 main task is protecting Britain signals, aiming to prevent and alert government
at home, to gather intelligence related to threats agencies and the Armed Forces of possible
to domestic security. Nevertheless, it is not threats (The National Archives, retrieved 2019). It
limited to the national territory, as it operates works with partner organisations in the United
abroad as well in cooperation with other foreign States, New Zealand and Australia, signatories of
intelligence services. It is part of the Home Office, the UKUSA Agreement. The GCHQ maintains a
meaning that the Home Secretary is responsible permanent surveillance of communications of
to Parliament.  interest to British security (GCHQ, 2019).
  Although it is not part of the FCO, the minister
b.     MI6. responsible is the Foreign Secretary.
Officially the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), MI6  
operates as the foreign intelligence agency. Its b.     NaCTSO.
mission is to give the Government wide global The National Counter Terrorism Security Office, is
covert capability (SIS, 2019). This organisation the organisation within the Home Office that
strictly works outside the national territory, prepares and coordinates the Government’s
collecting information and mounting operations counter terrorism strategy within local police
overseas to “prevent and detect serious crime, forces around the country (Government, 2019).
and promote and defend the national security and The minister responsible is the Home Secretary.
economic wellbeing of the United Kingdom” (MI6,
2019). It is part of the Foreign and Commonwealth There are other agencies working against
Office (FCO), meaning that the minister terrorism in Britain such as the Metropolitan
responsible is the Foreign Secretary.  Police of London, all the local police forces, the
  Ministry of Defence’s Defence Intelligence, among
others.
GOING BEYOND PAGE   17

Surrounding the security agencies listed above, D. BORDER SECURITY AND MIGRANT CRISIS. 
are controversies of human rights violations in  
their operations. Regarding the operations of Protecting the borders of the United Kingdom is a
GCHQ, it has been argued that the constant task entrusted to the Border Force (BF), part of
gathering of communications and interception of the Home Office. The BF is in charge of
such is a constant violation of the right to privacy. maintaining a control at the country’s 140 airports,
When Parliament passed the Investigatory Powers seaports, rails and land borders, the last in Ireland.
Act in 2016, many spoke out against the bill The responsibilities of the BF include:
stating that not only the right to privacy but  
freedom of speech would be affected as the act a.     “Checking the immigration status of people
significantly enlarged the Government’s arriving in and departing the UK
surveillance powers (Reporters without Borders, b.          Searching baggage, vehicles and cargo for
2016). This act did give the Government large illicit products or illegal immigrants
surveillance and information collection powers, c.          Patrolling the UK coastline and searching
something that some see as positive for the vessels 
security of the country and some others, as a d.     Gathering intelligence
violation of human rights. e.          Alerting the police and security service to
people of interest”
Another controversy related to the MI5 and MI6 is (Home Office, 2018).
the alleged cooperation and perpetration of
torture. The ISC Detainee Reports of 2018, show These responsibilities have become utterly
that members of the Armed Forces and of MI6 important to keep Britain safe in the wake of
and MI5 were involved in tortures and renditions radical terrorism. Although many of the
in Afghanistan, this after the 911 attacks perpetrators of the recent terrorist attacks in the
(Parliament, 2018). After these reports, there was United Kingdom have been British passport holder
a call to reform the way the agencies operate, the or even British citizens, foreign terrorists still try
Government responded that since 2010, there has to enter national territory. One of the priorities of
been a guideline for interrogations and the BF is to “deter and prevent individuals and
detainments, nevertheless, some argue that more goods that would harm the national interest from
public control of these operations is necessary entering the UK” (Home Office, 2018). 
(The Guardian, 2018).
GOING BEYOND PAGE   18

The individuals that may pose a threat to the Although many migrants wish to come to this
country and its people, are subject of arrest and country for a better future, illegally crossing the
deportation from Britain, arrests can be made by Channel and arriving to British land without the BF
port or inland officers, meaning that the BF does and other authorities’ checks poses a threat to the
not only operate at points of entry to the United national security. According to David Beasley, head
Kingdom; in order to deport someone, there must of the United Nations World Food Programme,
be a court order, this according to the Immigration extremist groups in the Sahel and the Middle East,
Act of 1971 and the UK Borders Act of 2007; of are using the migrant crisis and the lack of
course, British citizens are not eligible to opportunities in Africa to recruit and infiltrate
deportation under these provisions. Europe with their extremists (The Guardian,
2018).
the BF and other law enforcement agencies more
tools to prevent terrorism coming to the United In 2018, a deal was made between the
Kingdom. According to the Immigration Act of governments of France and the United Kingdom
1971, part 1, article 2A, someone can be striped regarding the crisis, addressing, among other
off the right to abode (the right to freely come things, the Channel Crisis. In this treaty the United
and go from the country without the Government’s Kingdom and France Committed to allocate more
authorization), if he or she meets certain resources to address the crisis (BBC, 2018).
conditions that make him or she a person of Nevertheless, after many efforts made by both
interest. This gave authorities the possibility to governments, even a Royal Navy frigate being
prevent suspected terrorists of leaving the sent to the English Channel, many illegal migrants
country or getting back in, even if they are British still try to cross the Channel (BBC, 2019).
citizens. 
 
Although British borders are well secured, the BF
still faces a huge challenge regarding the migrant
crisis. The constant influx of migrants from Africa
and the Middle East into Europe has posed a
challenge to European governments in how to
handle it. As to the United Kingdom, the challenge
comes from the sea border with France at English
Channel, as considerable migrants try to illegally
cross from Calais (BBC, 2018). 
GOING BEYOND PAGE   19

6. QARMAS.
How can intelligence organizations be strengthened to ensure the reduction of
acts of terror realized in the United Kingdom?

What measures can be taken regarding border security in Northern Ireland

without reigniting the violence of The Troubles?

What should be the role of United Kingdom intelligence agencies in cooperating

with the rest of the world, and specifically, the European Union after Brexit?

To which degree will Parliament choose to establish measures to protect border

security in its borders with the European Union, and what consequences will this
bring?

What are the main sources of threat to British security, and how can they be
dealt with? 

Should the Government be held accountable to Parliament regarding the actions

taken by security agencies?

Should British citizens be deprived of their citizenship if involved in foreign

terrorist plots?
GOING BEYOND PAGE   20

7. Recommended bibliography
a.   May, E. (1997). Treatise on The Law, Privileges, Proceedings and Usage of
Parliament. London: Butterworths.
 
b. The Speaker & Deputy Speakers of the House. (2018). Rules of behaviour and
courtesies in the House of Commons. London: House of Commons. 

c. The British Parliament. (2010). A Brief Chronology of the House of Commons. March
20th, 2019, The British Parliament:  https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-
information-office/g03.pdf

d. The British Parliament. (2018). The Work of the House of Commons. March 20th,
2019, The British Parliament:  https://www.parliament.uk/business/commons/what-the-
commons-does/
 
e. Public Service Commission. (2013). The Westminster system. March 20th, 2019,
Government of New South
Wales:  https://www.psc.nsw.gov.au/employmentportal/ethics-conduct/behaving-
ethically/behaving-ethically-guide/section-1/the-westminster-system    *NEW SOUTH
WALES, AUSTRALIA - SAME SYSTEM IN GREAT BRITAIN
 
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2019, The Lancashire Post:  https://www.lep.co.uk/news/timeline-of-terror-attacks-in-
recent-years-1-9299802
 
g. The National Archives. (2019). Intelligence and security services. March 20th, 2019,
The National Archives:  http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-
research/research-guides/intelligence-and-security-services/
 
h. HM Government. Parliament Acts regarding terrorism. Available
at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/all?title=terrorism
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