COMBATTING EXTREMISM

Priyanka Mehta Wednesday 11th December 2019 05:48 EST
 
 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson believes that the London Bridge attack by Usman Khan cannot be blamed on the Home Office's Prevent scheme. Prevent is the UK government’s ground war against extremism. The programme is considered to be controversial as a counter-terrorism strategy by industry experts. It seeks both to educate communities about the risks of radicalisation and stage interventions with vulnerable individuals long before any crime has been committed.

In an exclusive interview with Asian Voice, Johnson stressed that “although Prevent has its critics, we have to do everything we can to stop people getting on the pathway to radicalism and extremism”. He continued

“I don’t think that the recent attack can necessarily be blamed on the defects in the Prevent scheme. It seems to me that the man who was responsible for the London Bridge atrocity was a hardline Jihadi who had been radicalized through contact with Anjem Chowdhury and others.”

Recent reports indicate that Islamist threat remains strong in the UK with counter-terrorism experts warning against complacency. On Monday 9th December, a man was arrested in the Bristol suburb of Clifton on suspicion of Islamist-related terrorism offenses. According to the Avon and Somerset Police, the 33-year-old was held on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. However, they added that the attack was not linked to the London Bridge attack. 

Yet, the spotlight is thrown back on the government's failure to combat the growing threat of extremism that prevails in the UK ever since the 7/7 London bombings. Founded in 2003, the Home Office claims that, Prevent, so far, has successfully diverted more than 1,200 people from extremism and, potentially, acts of terror. But it must be noted that Usman Khan was part of the Desistance and Disengagement Programme (DDP), an arm of Prevent. Anjem Choudary, the Islamist firebrand preacher, and his influence is also reportedly a DDP subject. Khan had also been secretly recorded talking about his plans to recruit UK radicals to attend a training camp in Kashmir.

Incorrect to side either with Pakistan or India on Kashmir" 

The revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir by the Indian Government has caused a domino effect on British politics. These consequences are reflected in Labour's Kashmir resolution in Brighton and in the way the Party is endorsed by “terrorist organisations” like the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). Probed about his stance on Kashmir and the existence of such “terrorist outfits”, Johnson noted that it is incorrect for any political party to favour one country over the other.

“We are opposed to any kind of extremism and we will do anything we can to stamp it out. On the issue of Kashmir, let’s be clear the: UK faces the difficulty of being there right at the beginning. It is a very complex international dispute which I don’t think we are capable of solving owing to our historical role. We hope that both parties (India and Pakistan) can work towards resolving the issue.

“I think the worst thing that the UK can do is take sides on the issue and come down favouring one over the other. And I think the Labour Party has made a mistake in seeming to intervene in the issue through their resolution.”

Seen by some as a Prime Minister carrying forward David Cameron's legacy of strengthening UK-India relations, Johnson further re-emphasised his intent on negotiating a UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in a post-Brexit environment.

He said, “We will begin a multi-lateral negotiation process and pursue a UK-India FTA at the earliest. I think India presents vast opportunities and there are ways in which India can open up its markets to us.

“We have already made it clear that we will be speeding up the Tier 2 visa process and we are expanding it to accommodate various other categories and industries as well.”

Immigration: We will bring in the curry chefs that the catering sector needs

Recently multiple changes have been made to the UK visa system, especially since the introduction of the 2-year Post Study Work Visa. This was followed by the expansion of the Shortage Occupation List of 6 October 2019 which has made it easier for Tier 2 Sponsor Licence employers and Tier 2 General visa migrants. The changes mean that about nine percent of total employment in the UK will come within the scope of the shortage occupation list, compared to less than 1 percent of total employment, which was previously the case. Many perceive  the Conservative Party to be more anti-immigration, owing to Theresa May's Hostile Environment policy. However, Johnson insists,

“One of the reasons why we want to get Brexit done is to  bring fairness to our immigration policy and bring in to this country all the people who are needed across these industries and small scale businesses.

“We realise that the curry houses, catering, and hospitality sector need more curry chefs and we will bring them through our Australian style points-based immigration scheme. Most fundamentally we will ensure the fair treatment of immigrants between EEA and non-EEA arrivals.”

Previously there was a ban on restaurants and other establishments that had a takeaway service from sponsoring Chefs. This was very inconvenient but the restriction no longer exists which makes it much easier for many in the hospitality industry. However, chefs can still not be sponsored for fast food or standard fare outlets. UK Visa and Immigration at the Home Office defines a standard fare outlet as the following:

"A standard fare outlet is one where the menu is designed centrally for outlets in a chain/franchise, rather than by a chef or chefs in the individual restaurant. Standard fare outlets also include those where dishes and/or cooking sauces are bought in ready-made, rather than prepared from fresh/raw ingredients.”

However, for providing certainty to the Small and Medium-Sized Asian Businesses and bolstering the British economy, Boris' goes back to his central theme of “get Brexit done”.

“In the current state of the economy there is massive uncertainty and everyone is waiting for Brexit to happen which we can get it done on 31st January provided we can get a working Conservative majority government.

“There are only two options: Either you have a working majority Conservative government or you have a hung Parliament. If you have a hung Parliament then it will lead to further delay and confusion. The Labour Party wants to hold a second referendum and there is no possibility of the Liberal Democrats forming a government on its own, and not an alliance with us either even in the eventuality of a hung Parliament.”


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