Cameron unveils plans to defeat 'poison' of extremism

David Cameron said that extremism is the 'struggle of our generation'.

David Cameron has outlined a five-year plan to tackle home-grown extremism which he said "was the struggle of our generation".

Speaking in Birmingham, he spoke of the challenge of "how together we defeat extremism and at the same time build a stronger more cohesive society".

The plans include:

  • A new Extremism Bill which will contain "narrowly-targeted" powers to target extremist "facilitators and cult leaders" whose aim is to "groom young people and brainwash their minds.

  • The introduction of a scheme to enable parents to apply to have their children's passports removed if they suspect them of planning to travel abroad to join a radical group.

  • Tackling sectarian and communal segregation in schools

  • A new review looking into boosting opportunity and integration for minority groups.

The prime minister also called on the communications watchdog Ofcom to clamp down on cable TV channels broadcasting extremist messages.

He also urged broadcasters to use a wider range of speakers from Muslim communities, rather than repeatedly putting extreme voices on screen.

Mr Cameron added that universities should be ready to challenge extremist speakers on campus.

He also attacked the National Union of Students for "allying itself" with the Muslim advocacy group Cage, one of whose officials earlier this year described the IS terrorist nicknamed Jihadi John as a "beautiful young man".

The Islamic State militant known as Jihadi John was seen in several videos showing the beheadings of captives. Credit: Reuters

The student body later issued a statement in response to Mr Cameron's "misleading comments".

"NUS wants to make it very clear that, as previously and categorically stated, we will not work with CAGE in any capacity. We have written to the Home Secretary in order to specifically clarify this situation."

Jamal Akbar from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association said 'radical ideologies' are against the teachings of Islam.

A spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association said "any approach the government take to tackle extremism is welcomed within any community".

But Jamal Akbar cautioned that inherently within the prime minister's message "there’s still an undertone that there is a large group of Muslims in the UK that secretly support Isis. What evidence there is for that is to be seen".