Free speech would be restricted under Government plans to combat extremism, a senior Conservative MP warned in October.
David Davis said proposals for anti-extremism orders ‘just won’t work’. His comments were echoed by the Shadow Home Secretary, who cautioned that ministers must ‘proceed with the utmost caution’.
The criticism came ahead of David Cameron launching his Government’s counter-extremism strategy. Writing online, the Prime Minister said the ‘extremist narrative needs to be fought every day at the kitchen table, on the university campus, online and on the airwaves’.
The new Counter-Extremism Strategy includes plans for Extremism Disruption Orders (EDOs) for which a new campaign – Defend Free Speech – has seen The Christian Institute join forces with the National Secular Society in order to halt the Government’s plans.
Discussing the Government’s approach, Home Secretary Theresa May came under pressure from the BBC’s John Humphrys about the definition of extremism. Humphrys – who at one point described a definition used by Theresa May as ‘dangerously loose’ – noted that the former head of MI5 has said Christian street preachers could be caught under the plans. He also said that Conservative minister Dominic Raab has commented that people debating same sex marriage could be ‘slapped down’.
David Davis, a former Shadow Home Secretary, cautioned: ‘The government of the day cannot easily lay down what British values are. If you enforce tolerance of other religions you cramp free speech’.
