Yvette Cooper is right – the government must do more to tackle extremism
When the riots started this month, the government first saw them as a problem of maintaining law and order. Strong policing and quick, harsh punishments helped to stop the violent chaos.
A more extensive examination of the underlying reasons for the violent unrest was always going to be needed – it is not about making excuses for the completely unacceptable actions. Therefore, Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, is correct in instructing her department to identify any shortcomings in the UK's strategy for combating extremism.
Despite the promise in the Labour manifesto to "modernize the regulations", the recent violence highlights the need for immediate action. Ms. Cooper emphasized that governments have neglected the growing extremism, both online and in our communities, for too long. It is concerning that a significant number of those involved in the riots are young people under 18 years old.
The Home Office will examine the increase of both Islamist and far-right extremism as well as broader patterns, including considering if extreme misogyny should be classified as terrorism. There is worry that influencers like Andrew Tate are influencing teenage boys online. Labour will need to take a stronger position on this issue in order to reach its goal of reducing violence against women and girls by 50% in ten years. It is shocking that there was a nearly 40% increase in these crimes between 2018 and 2023.
The assessment will cover the spread of harmful content on the internet. This needs to be more than just checking a box because social media played a significant role in sharing false information and planning the riots following the tragic Southport stabbings.
Government officials are being cautious. It's no surprise that Keir Starmer didn't want to get into a heated argument with Elon Musk - that's exactly what the owner of Twitter/X wanted to attract attention to his business. Mr. Musk's statement about a "civil war" in Britain seems even more absurd now than it did before.
Currently, officials appear to be leaning towards implementing the much-anticipated Online Safety Act and observing how it works rather than conducting yet another evaluation - such as reconsidering the idea of prohibiting "legal but harmful" content. Nonetheless, they should not hesitate to enforce stricter regulations on technology companies if they fail to improve their behavior.
Ms Cooper needs to make sure her review is as quick as she says it will be. It's possible to learn a lot from past investigations, like Louise Casey's study on integration in the UK in 2016. Interestingly, Dame Louise predicted current events by warning that not discussing these issues leaves room for both the far right and Islamist extremists. These groups may have different ideologies, but they ultimately want the same thing - to prove that diversity and modern Britain, or Islam and modern Britain, don't mix. However, they are mistaken in this belief.
Certainly, the way the government deals with the riots must tackle the issue of limited integration in certain areas of England. A society that is more unified would likely decrease instances of hate crime and sectarian violence, and aid in the battle against extremism and terrorism.
She is correct. There has not been much improvement since 2015. Michael Gove, the previous communities secretary, suggested a new way to define extremism but did not have enough time before the election. Even though the situation was different, the Tories appeared more interested in discussing Islamic extremism during pro-Palestinian demonstrations after the Israel attack last October, rather than addressing the far-right danger.
They are sticking to their beliefs. Kemi Badenoch, the shadow communities secretary and potential leader of the Conservative Party, argues that the 2010 Equality Act has caused division within communities. She believes that issues such as unequal policing and misapplication of equality laws have led to discontent. Badenoch points out conflicts between women and transgender activists, different religious groups, men and women, and Black and white individuals as examples. This statement is just another example of candidates appealing to their party members, who will ultimately decide the next party leader.
On the other hand, Ms Cooper's review is thankfully more connected to reality. The real challenge will be seeing if it leads to a fresh approach to combating extremism that is effective for current issues, or if it simply becomes another forgotten report sitting on government office shelves.
