London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has promised to crack down on people “pushing harmful and hateful beliefs”, including severe misogyny, as she revealed a new approach to combating extremism.
What new approach is being introduced to tackle extremism?
The Home Office has designated a rapid review to inform a recent government counter-extremism approach on how best to tackle the threat posed by extremist ideologies online and offline. The study will assess the ideological spectrum and is planned to address “gaps in the current system” that depart the country exposed to hateful or dangerous activity that encourages violence or undermines democracy.
Officials will evaluate “the rise of Islamist and far-right extremism” alongside “ideological trends” that have achieved traction including intense misogyny. The scheme also seeks to assess the causes and behaviour of radicalisation of young people online and offline.
Why does Yvette Cooper believe the previous counter-extremism strategy was outdated?
Cooper has earlier told the last government’s counter-extremism strategy was nine years out of date. She thinks the review will spread the foundations for Labour to deliver on its manifesto commitment of preventing people from being drawn towards hostile ideologies.
She told the Guardian: “The script was clearly on the wall for some time. All my reports have shown, in a nutshell, that firstly these radical and cohesion threats are declining; secondly, our country is woefully spontaneous. We’ve got a gap in our legislation which is allowing these extremists to operate with impunity.”
How does the review plan to address the radicalization of young people?
Cooper stated: “For too long management has failed to address the rise in extremism, both online and on our roads, and we’ve seen the number of young people radicalised online develop. Hateful stimulation of all kinds fractures and frays the very fabric of our societies and our democracy.
“Act against extremism has been poorly hollowed out in recent years, just when it should have been required most. That’s why I have coached the Home Office to conduct a quick analytical sprint on extremism, to map and watch extremist trends, to understand the proof about what works to disrupt and distract people away from extremist views, and to determine any gaps in existing approach which need to be managed to crack down on those pushing dangerous and hateful beliefs and violence. That position will underpin a new strategic direction to countering extremism from government, operating closely with communities to build consensus and impetus for our plans.”