The government’s independent counter-extremism adviser has blamed a “failed policy mix of mass migration and multiculturalism” for the growth of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment in Britain.
Robin Simcox, the Home Office’s counter-extremism commissioner, said there was a “tolerant environment” for attacks and criticism of Jews.
Writing in the Times, he said many Hamas supporters were “successfully exploiting one of our proudest British values – free speech – to pursue a shameful extremist agenda.”
“The UK is one of the most successful multi-ethnic democracies in the world, but that success depends on a basic level of integration,” he added.
‘We cannot continue to allow large numbers of people to come to Britain and tell them that they do not have to integrate, that they can uphold certain values and ideas that are contrary to British values.’
But his comments, which preceded a speech today, were criticized by Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, who said Times Radio: ‘No, I don’t agree with that. I think Britain is a country and an environment where we take all threats to any community very seriously.
Robin Simcox, the Home Office’s counter-extremism commissioner, said there was a “tolerant environment” for attacks and criticism of Jews.
Writing in the Times, he said protesters were “successfully exploiting one of our proudest British values – free speech – to pursue a shameful extremist agenda.”
But his comments, which preceded a speech today, were criticized by Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, who told Times Radio: ‘No, I don’t agree with that. I think Britain is a country and an environment where we take all threats to any community very seriously.”
“You only have to look at the responses over the last ten days – the way the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and I and many others have reached out to the Jewish community to ensure that police action is appropriate is… to provide reassurance.
“The way we have also come into contact with the Muslim community, some of whom are also feeling vulnerable and stigmatized at the moment.”
The minister also emphasized the right to freedom of expression as “absolutely fundamental” to democracy.
He drew a distinction between “perfectly legitimate” support for Palestine and the promotion of Hamas, a banned terrorist group in Britain, which he said should lead to arrests.
“This country supports freedom of expression and it is entirely right that we do so, because freedom of expression is… in fact the basis of every other freedom,” he said.
‘I am not going to apologize about freedom of speech… but I will stand up and say very clearly that banned organizations that seek to spread terror or hatred in our community must be prevented from doing so and those who stand up for them must do too. arrested.’
The minister also disputed suggestions that multiculturalism has failed, describing Britain as having ‘phenomenal success in bringing people together’.
‘I must say that I live in a multicultural house. My wife is French, we speak French and English at home.
‘Many people speak different languages at home, identify with different cultures and can combine them all very effectively.’