Extremists Numbers Increasing?

A leaked government intelligence report notes that there are ‘thousands’ of extremists active in the UK ‘principally engaged in spreading their extremist message, training, fund raising and procuring non-lethal military equipment to support the Jihads in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, and sending recruits to the conflicts.’

This document re-confirms the fact that the ideological message of Islamist groups such as Al Qaeda is having an effect on young men living in this country to such an extent that they are prepared to indiscriminately kill as many people as possible. Often Muslims cite the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as the main reasons why they think some Muslim men are attracted to extremism. While these reasons may be contributing factors, Muslims need to accept that there is an overriding ideological reason as espoused by Al Qaeda and its like whose followers believe in the indiscriminate killing of people as a way of furthering their cause. This ideology whose supporters we have recently seen in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan and other African and Middle Eastern states has no qualms about killing Muslims if they are seen to support the West let alone non-Muslims. This extremist ideology is spread using the Internet, university campuses, small study circles and other similar methods to brainwash young men into believing this ideology is the only way forward and must be followed.

Muslims in this country need to be vigilant especially parents of teenagers to ensure young men who may be angry at world events do not allow this anger to be channeled towards a path of destruction by extremists who are extremely professional and dedicated to their cause. Blaming foreign policy is not an answer, the Islamist ideology must be tackled head on.

Hamilton Wins F1 Title

In an unbelievably dramatic finish, Lewis Hamilton won the Formula One title on the last corner of the final lap of the final race. He becomes the youngest ever F1 Champion and deserves all of our congratulations.

They Have Blood!

More bloodletting at the BBC with the controller of Radio 2 Lesley Douglas resigning. Jonathan Ross has been suspended from the BBC for 12 weeks but will that be sufficient to placate the angry public?

Tax cuts v Interest rate cuts?

Lord Lawson wants interest rates cut and not cuts in taxes to deal with the impending recession. Contrast this with what what Ken Clarke recently said on Newsnight that interest rate cuts would have a negligible effect on reviving the economy. Which one of them is right?

From recent statements made by the Chancellor it seems he will try and borrow his way out of trouble with some tax cuts being funded by the additional borrowing highly likely . The fiscal rules laid down by Gordon Brown as Chancellor have been binned with the Chancellor saying it would be perverse to stick with these in the current economic climate. We’re back to the the Monetarists v Keynes economic debate with the Chancellor all set to favour Keynes.

Brand Resigns

Russell Brand has the honourable thing and resigned. The BBC will be very relieved that it doesn’t have to take a decision relating to one of the two presenters. I doubt very much anyone will have tried to talk him out of his decision.

Tough on Terror II?

More evidence here that the Government’s proposals to fight terror are more to do with headlines than tackling terrorism. After the press headlines and a round of media interviews the Home Secretary will learn if she doesn’t know already that unless an alleged preacher of hate is convicted of a crime in a court of law in this country she will not be able to deport him no matter how objectionable his views are. And if this preacher has acquired British nationality then her tasks become extremely difficult if not impossible.

And if preachers of hate wanting to come to this country are being sponsored from an organisation or individual from the UK and both parties denounce extremism and disassociate themselves from terrorism in a letter to the Home Office at the time of the application, will she grant him a visa because from the proposals put forward that is the that is required?

Criminals will pay!

Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said that more consideration must be given to the victims of crime instead of criminals. Sentences of the court he said ‘are first and foremost for the punishment of those who have broken the law, broken society’s rules’ . And he added that a Victims Commissioner is to be appointed soon to ensure there is a voice for victims in Government. Why is he talking about punishing criminals as a priority eleven years after the ‘tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime’ slogan? Isn’t this an admission that despite tough rhetoric his Government hasn’t been tough on criminals or fair to the victims of crime and has emphatically not delivered on its election promise?

Tough on Terror?

Now that proposed legislation to detain alleged terrorist suspects for 42 days without charge has been shelved, Jacqui Smith has come up with another daft idea to try and show that her government is tough on terrorism. This plan involves naming and shaming those foreigners who have been refused a visa to the United Kingdom on security grounds such as preachers of hate and those who foster extremism – unless quite bizarrely, they can show the authorities that they have renounced their previously held views!

I simply cannot work out how naming these people keeps us safe or prevents another terrorist atrocity. It appears to be another gimmick and an attempt to get a pat on the back from the public for not giving permission to extremists to enter this country.

It would be far more sensible for the government to focus its energies on closing down those websites which are easily accessible where many preachers of hate convey their message rather than announcing that it has refused a visa to an individual. 

Compulsory Sex Education for 5 year olds?

Should children as young as five be compulsorily given relationship lessons including sex education in schools? Most people will say not but that is what schools minister Jim Knight has decided and on which he is seeking a review as to how this should be implemented. A few years ago the Liberal Democrats passed a motion at their conference proposing compulsory sex education in primary schools. I recall absolute outrage from Labour Councillors in Kirklees where I was a councillor at such an absurd proposal. I suspect their outrage will be muted this time around.

This is yet another example of Labour wanting to dilute the rights of parents in bringing up their children in the manner that they choose. It is at odds with Conservative thinking in trusting parents to look after their children and giving parents the choice of deciding when their children should learn about sex education. This unfortunately is another step on the long road to ‘nationalisation’ of parenting taken by this government.