20 Jul 2015

Extremism: David Cameron pledges five-year plan

Prime Minister David Cameron announces plans today to crush home-grown extremism, vowing to tackle the “failures of integration” that attract British youths to the so-called Islamic State.

David Cameron will announce a five-year plan on Monday that aims to address the “failures of integration” that lead to home-grown extremism and convince those tempted to travel to Syria not to buy into the supposed “glamour” of fighting for the so-called Islamic State in the region.

A review of how the state can help “lift the horizons” of isolated and deprived communities will be among a raft of initiatives the Prime Minister hopes will help curb the radicalisation of potential jihadists.

‘Cannon fodder’

In his speech, the Prime Minister will say that the UK must “confront a tragic truth that there are people born and raised in this country who don’t really identify with Britain and feel little or no attachment to other people here,”

“This is what we face: a radical ideology that is not just subversive, but can seem exciting, one that has often sucked people in from non-violence to violence, that is overpowering moderate voices within the debate and which can gain traction because of issues of identity and failures of integration.”
“We have to answer each one of these four points. Do that, and the right approach for defeating this extremism follows.”

He also issued a stark warning to young Britons attracted by the perceived “glamour” of fighting for Islamic State. “You won’t be some valued member of a movement. You are cannon fodder for them. They will use you.”, he said.

“If you are a boy, they will brainwash you, strap bombs to your body and blow you up. If you are a girl, they will enslave and abuse you. That is the sick and brutal reality of Isil.”

Police and security services believe at least 700 extremists have travelled to fight with IS militants who have taken control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria, with half since returned and posing a domestic terrorist threat.

Mr Cameron will also announce that he has appointed Louise Casey, director general of the government’s Troubled Families programme, to lead “a comprehensive review into boosting opportunity and integration to bring Britain together as one nation”.