Details have emerged of the letter the Mayor of London has sent to the Home Secretary, calling for the closure of the legal loophole which allowed the “celebration” of the Hezbollah terrorist group at last month’s Al Quds Day march.

Sadiq Khan wrote to Amber Rudd on Tuesday, after calls from both Labour and Conservative figures in London.

Hezbollah’s official “terrorist wing” is already proscribed in this country under the section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, but its “political wing” - which holds positions in Lebanon’s government - is not.

However, Hezbollah itself makes no distinction between the two wings, and both use the same military-style emblem – including an assault rifle brandished aloft

Flags and attire bearing the emblem were on show at the anti-Israel Al Quds Day march in central London in June. 

The Mayor called on the Ms Rudd to “close the loophole” which allowed the emblem to be displayed.

He wrote: “Hezbollah is an illegal, proscribed organisation, yet many perceive that it was actively celebrated during the Al Quds Day March.

“A motion was passed by all parties of the London Assembly on Thursday 6 July which called upon the Government to take action.

“I would appreciate a response from the Government that acknowledges the hurt that is felt and your plans to close any loophole.”

It is presumed this would effectively mean an outright ban on Hezbollah in the UK.

The Conservative Friends of Israel, the Labour Friends of Israel and the Jewish Labour Movement have each called for an outright ban of Hezbollah.

Mr Khan has singled out the work of Labour London Assembly member Andrew Dismore, who represents Barnet and Camden. The Mayor said Mr Dismore has been a “tireless campaigner on this issue for more than a decade”.

The Home Office has not yet responded to a request for comment. We reproduce the full letter below;