Evening Standard Comment: Stop the radicalisation of young UK Muslims

 
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The Attorney General’s decision not to prosecute a London teenager who left the country to join Islamic State, only to change his mind in Turkey, does not mean prosecutors are taking a softer approach to extremism. After returning home, the 17-year-old refused to take part in a counter-radicalisation programme, but the Attorney General’s decided prosecution would not be in the public interest. There remain 29 other people awaiting trial on terrorism charges connected to Islamic State, and the Attorney General has approved prosecution for all of them.

The worrying thing is that this London teenager should have left for Syria in the first place. This is one reason why the Prime Minister has launched a new initiative to combat Islamist radicalisation. Legislation will create new extremism disruption orders that could permit the closure of mosques or other venues where police believe Muslims are being radicalised. A counter-extremism bill will also include new powers to ban extremists who undermine “British values”. This is bound to generate debate about what, precisely, these values are — but most people have a very good idea of what is contrary to such values. And while some young recruits to IS have been indoctrinated online, radical mosques and preachers have played an important role in poisoning such young Muslim minds.

There is no single, all-encompassing solution to the problem of proselytising Islamists and the recruits who join IS. But what is obvious is that preventing the recruitment of young men like the one who returned from Turkey is more urgent than trying to recall them once they leave the UK. It is a source of shame to this country that there are Britons among the fanatics fighting for IS: we must do everything possible to stem this evil.

Labour’s mayoral race

In an interview with this paper today, former shadow justice secretary and Tooting MP Sadiq Khan announces his bid to be Labour’s candidate for the mayoralty in 2016. At the same time, Diane Abbott MP has formally declared her candidacy. Mr Khan was already a strong contender in this race before even declaring himself, along with Dame Tessa Jowell. Now the contest for the Labour leadership, which is happening at the same time, may impinge on the choice of mayoral candidate. Mr Khan can claim one of Labour’s few successes in the election, having led the London campaign, though Ms Jowell and the other main mayoral contender, David Lammy MP, have warned about the shortcomings of Labour’s election performance even in the capital. Mr Khan is perceived as being to the Left of either of them, and was until now close to Ed Miliband. All will bid in a primary for the votes of party members, members of affiliated unions and members of the public who pay £3 to become Labour “supporters”: the result is expected in July.

Labour should be in a strong position in this contest, though the reality is that a Labour mayor would have to deal with a Tory government, a significant challenge. But for most of the next year, Boris Johnson is still Mayor; he appears to have turned down a ministerial role until he finishes his term. Good: the job of London’s mayor is too important to be compromised.

Elton’s plea

Billy Elliot, Sir Elton John’s smash hit, is, according to the composer, no less relevant now than on its first showing 10 years ago. Before a gala performance he calls on the new government to act in the spirit of Billy Elliot and extend compassion for vulnerable communities. That would certainly make for One Nation Conservatism.

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