Saying the unsayable on the Islamist threat

AFTER decades of MPs’ politically correct pussyfooting around cultural sensitivities, this was the day David Cameron had the guts to confront the causes of Islamist radicalisation head-on.

In a ruthlessly honest speech, he blamed not only extremist preachers, violent and non-violent, for inspiring young Britons to join the ‘poisonous cause’ of IS.

The Prime Minister was also unsparing in his condemnation of the liberal Establishment’s misguided doctrine of multiculturalism and its ‘passive tolerance’ of affronts to our way of life.

Thus, he deplored the way segregated minority communities have developed, in towns such as Dewsbury and Oldham, where people can grow up without any sense of British identity.

He had harsh words, too, for police, politicians and others who, ‘for fear of causing offence’, have turned a blind eye to such scandals as forced marriages, ‘honour crimes’, child sex abuse by Asian gangs in Rotherham or electoral corruption in Tower Hamlets.

Meanwhile, he condemned universities and broadcasters for giving a platform to extremists, while attacking cynically selfserving internet companies for spreading videos that glamorise terrorism and failing to help the security services.

Indeed, it is hard to fault Mr Cameron’s assessment (though he should surely have attached more blame to Tony Blair’s invasion of Iraq).

But with 700 already believed to have joined IS in the Middle East – half of them, alarmingly, now thought to be back on our streets – this paper only wishes his proposed solutions were as convincing.

Yes, there is sense in letting parents apply to have their children’s passports cancelled, while it is right to offer moderate Muslims all the support they can get in spreading the anti-terrorist message (as long as we ensure it goes to the right people). And though no quick results can be expected, it is worth exploring ways of using schools and social housing to integrate isolated communities.

But does Mr Cameron really believe any practical purpose will be served by appointing Louise Casey, the all-purpose tsar, to review ways of boosting opportunity and integration?

As for other aspects of his ‘five-year plan’, such as putting non-violent extremists ‘ out of action’, this paper will suspend judgment until full details are published in the autumn.

Meanwhile, we applaud the Prime Minister on the acuity of his analysis and his courage in saying the unsayable. But we fear there’s a great deal more work to be done before rhetoric becomes reality.