Baroness Arlene Foster of Aghadrumsee proposed an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to lower the threshold for glorifying terrorism. The amendment removes the requirement that statements describe terrorist acts as conduct to emulate. Peers backed the change 231 to 188, a majority of 43.

Baroness Foster stated that the amendment aims to criminalise current glorification of past terrorism. She questioned whether Parliament should signal that terrorism is always wrong. At a St Patrick's Day event in Newry on Tuesday, she observed parents buying children balaclavas and scarves with IRA logos, calling it normalised behaviour. She argued this harms future generations and erodes community trust.

Lord Tom Elliott of Ballinamallard supported the amendment with examples of young band members hearing pro-terrorist chants from adults after a Gaelic football match and neighbours cheering a murder of an Ulster Defence Regiment member while shouting support for the IRA. Lord Rogan recounted young people on the London Tube after St Patrick's Day shouting IRA support chants while wearing tricolours.

Baroness Fox of Buckley raised concerns about practical enforcement at football matches involving slogans from both sides. Lord Elliott responded that the amendment targets public antagonism supporting terrorist groups, distinct from sports chants.

Home Office minister Lord Hanson of Flint said the government cannot accept the amendments as proposed. He noted the existing encouragement offence, introduced after the 2005 London bombings, applies to reckless statements online or offline to prevent terrorism.

In a separate vote, peers approved an amendment by Lord Davies of Gower for the government to review proscription of Iran-related entities within a month of the bill passing, 220 to 191.