LONDON (TIP) : In his first major policy announcement since winning last week’s general election, British PM David Cameron on Wednesday announced new laws to combat a “poisonous Islamist ideology”.
He gave out plans for a new Counter-Extremism Bill at the first meeting of the new National Security Council in Downing Street. The new legislation will include introducing banning orders for extremist organizations that seek to undermine democracy or use hate speech in public places, new extremism disruption orders to restrict people who seek to radicalise young people and powers to close premises where extremists seek to influence others.
It also includes strengthening the powers of the Charity Commission to root out charities that misappropriate funds towards extremism and terrorism, further immigration restrictions on extremists and a strengthened role for Ofcom to take action against channels which broadcast extremist content.
“For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens: as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone,” Cameron said. “It’s often meant we have stood neutral between different values. And that’s helped foster a narrative of extremism and grievance. This government will conclusively turn the page on this failed approach. It means confronting head-on the poisonous Islamist extremist ideology. Whether they are violent in their means or not, we must make it impossible for the extremists to succeed.”