robin simcox
The government’s counter-extremism chief announced that London had become a “no-go zone for Jews” during the weekend’s pro-Palestinian marches.
Robin Simcox called on ministers to “be bolder and be willing to accept higher legal risks” when tackling extremism.
Last week, Chancellor Rishi Sunak warned of forces “trying to tear the country apart” in a speech.
He said we now need “policies that respond to the scale of the challenge.”
Mr Simcox said the creation of a new definition of extremism, which the BBC understands will be published next week, has a “clear aim” and will “improve who the government engages with and who it does not engage with”. It will guide future decisions.” Fund”.
He also said the government already had “more power to tackle extremism than is sometimes thought.”
“Even if extremists are no longer able to run our TV channels, we have not betrayed our democracy,” he said.
“And we would never have become an authoritarian state if London were no longer allowed to become a no-go zone for Jews every weekend.”
“All this and more is the norm in the UK,” he added.
Pro-Palestinian marches have been held regularly in London since the start of the Gaza conflict.
Last month, Home Secretary James Cleverley urged groups to call off their protests, saying he had “made his point”.
These groups have been accused of heavy-handed and “discriminatory” crackdowns on “peaceful mass protests” by the Metropolitan Police due to anti-Muslim “hysteria” by some MPs and pressure from the government. claims to be doing.