Home secretary Theresa May outlines Conservative anti-extremist plans

Home secretary Theresa May has outlined plans to address religious extremism in the next parliament should the Conservatives gain a majority in the upcoming election.

Among the proposals, May said that authorities should be allowed to issue banning orders on extremist groups to stop them spreading ‘messages of hate’.

In a highly anticipated speech at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in London on 23 March, May outlined a package which she said: “only a Conservative majority could guarantee would be implemented.”

She added: “We will introduce extremism disruption orders, which are civil powers to be used against individual extremists who incite hatred. And we will introduce closure orders, for premises that are owned or occupied by extremists or are used to host extremist meetings or speakers.”

Should the Conservatives gain a majority, May also said that an independent investigation into the use of Shari’a law in England and Wales should be commissioned to assess how it is being applied and its potential implications. The home secretary also proposed a review of supplementary schools to “protect children from extremists” and a “full review of citizenship law” to make sure successful applicants respect British values.

May said: “This strategy aims to tackle the whole spectrum of extremism, violent and non-violent, ideological and non-ideological, Islamist and neo-Nazi – hate and fear in all their forms.”

“The government’s new Extremism Analysis Unit is already up and running and helping to inform not just this strategy but government decision making on matters such as visa applications. As the Unit grows and develops it will inform more and more of what government and the wider public sector does.”

Responding to the speech, Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said: “Everyone other than the extremists agree that we should robustly defend and actively promote the pluralistic values our society rightly holds in esteem. But it isn’t enough for the home secretary to say it, she needs to act.

“We need to work in as many communities as possible, throughout the UK, to support civil society and defeat extremism.

“And we should never tie the hands of our agencies and the police in confronting dangerous, violent extremists. The government’s record is one of making that harder, not easier.”

The Muslim Council of Britain said: “We have consistently argued that the best counter‑terrorism strategy involves upholding our own values of freedom, civil liberties and ensuring that we do not single out any specific community. When this government came to power, there was a sense of optimism within communities that it would uphold and champion these values.

“However, whilst Mrs May rightly speaks for values promoting the rule of law, participation in and acceptance of democracy, equality, free speech and respect for minorities, it is disappointing to see that her proposals seem to be at variance with the very qualities she wants us to aspire to.”

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