Mar 8, 2024 07:24 AM
PRESS RELEASE: London has become a "no-go zone for Jews" during weekend pro-Palestinian marches, the government's counter-extremism commissioner has said. Robin Simcox urged ministers to "be bolder and be willing to accept higher legal risk" when tackling extremism.
Last week Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned in a speech of forces "trying to tear the country apart". Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Simcox said Mr Sunak had been right to point to an increase in extremist disruption.
He said he now needed the "policies to meet the scale of the challenge".
Mr Simcox said the creation of a new definition of extremism, which the BBC understands will be set out next week, had a "clear purpose", and would be used "to guide future decisions over who the government does and does not engage with and fund".
He also said the government already had "more power to tackle extremism than it sometimes thinks".
"We have not betrayed democracy if extremists are no longer able to operate television channels," he said. "And we will not have become an authoritarian state if London is no longer permitted to be turned into a no-go zone for Jews every weekend."
"All these things and more have become normalised in the UK," he added.
Since the start of the conflict in Gaza, regular pro-Palestine marches have taken place in London. Last month, Home Secretary James Cleverly urged the groups to end their protests saying "you've made your point".
In an interview with the Times, he questioned whether the demonstrations added "value" to their call for an end to fighting in Gaza.
The groups have argued that anti-Muslim "hysteria" from some MPs and pressure from the government have provoked the Metropolitan Police into heavy-handed and "discriminatory" policing of "peaceful mass protests".
Last week Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned in a speech of forces "trying to tear the country apart". Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Simcox said Mr Sunak had been right to point to an increase in extremist disruption.
He said he now needed the "policies to meet the scale of the challenge".
Mr Simcox said the creation of a new definition of extremism, which the BBC understands will be set out next week, had a "clear purpose", and would be used "to guide future decisions over who the government does and does not engage with and fund".
He also said the government already had "more power to tackle extremism than it sometimes thinks".
"We have not betrayed democracy if extremists are no longer able to operate television channels," he said. "And we will not have become an authoritarian state if London is no longer permitted to be turned into a no-go zone for Jews every weekend."
"All these things and more have become normalised in the UK," he added.
Since the start of the conflict in Gaza, regular pro-Palestine marches have taken place in London. Last month, Home Secretary James Cleverly urged the groups to end their protests saying "you've made your point".
In an interview with the Times, he questioned whether the demonstrations added "value" to their call for an end to fighting in Gaza.
The groups have argued that anti-Muslim "hysteria" from some MPs and pressure from the government have provoked the Metropolitan Police into heavy-handed and "discriminatory" policing of "peaceful mass protests".