Hatred of Britain will be treated as extremist under Sunak plans

PEOPLE who vilify Britain will be treated as extremists and referred to the Government’s deradicalisation Prevent scheme under plans by Rishi Sunak.

The Tory leadership contender said last night that he planned to widen the definition of extremism to include those with an “extreme hatred of Britain” who could then be placed on Prevent.

However, the move could provoke a backlash because it risks including lawabiding citizens who may be critical of Britain but do not have extremist tendencies.

However, the former chancellor’s camp last night insisted it would not include criticism of the Government or any government policy and was not legally binding.

Mr Sunak also announced proposals to “refocus” Prevent on Islamic extremism as the biggest threat to the UK’S security after complaints that it had tilted too much towards right-wing militants radicalised over the internet. He said: “There is no more important duty for a Prime Minister than keeping our country and our people safe.

“Whether redoubling our efforts to tackle Islamist extremism or rooting out those who are vocal in their hatred of our country, I will do whatever it takes to fulfil that duty.

“Britain is a beacon of freedom, tolerance and diversity. We must never let those who seek to undermine and destroy our way of life to succeed.”

Liz Truss’s camp said it was another “thin” policy release by Mr Sunak. “Mostly it’s a restatement of government policy. The few new proposals are superficial and unfunded with a risk of letting serious terrorists slip through the net by creating arbitary targets,” said a source.

Extremism is defined in the 2011 Prevent strategy as “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.”

It also covers “calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas.”

However, sources in the Sunak camp said he believed extremists did not just want to attack the UK’S values but also the country’s very existence.

“That is why he will add vilification of the UK to the definition of extremism, making sure that those with an extreme hatred of our country that leads them to pose a risk to national security can be identified and diverted away from a destructive path,” said a source.

Extremists who vilify the UK through writings or speech can be referred to Prevent, which is currently subject to a review by former charity commission boss William Shawcross.

At present, 22 per cent of referrals to the Prevent and Channel deradicalisation programmes are Islamist even though Islamists account for 80 per cent of live counter terror investigations and 68 per cent of all extremists in jails.

“Rishi would reform the Prevent programme so that the profile of cases broadly reflects the terror threat posed to the UK,” said a spokesman.