David Cameron's heavily-briefed speech today on tackling the root causes of terrorism did very little of what it claimed to do. The prime minister wanted to go further than just asking how Brits are getting to Syria. But the only topics he seemed interested in were the culpability of the Muslim community and the need to limit non-violent extremism, which happens to be the focus of legislation currently going through parliament.
We pick apart the speech and find it to be deeply shortsighted and bereft of ideas, or even curiosity, about the alienation clearly besetting some Muslim communities. We also frame it in terms of a frustrating unwillingness from Cameron to ever roll up his sleeves when it comes to substantive social problems.
Elsewhere, we keep digging into the psychoactive substances bill and find that it effectively dismantles the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. The council has long been a thorn in the Home Office's side, but it appears that it has now been plucked out. The last vestiges of evidence-based drug policy in Westminster are now being erased. Have a stiff one on us - after all, it's Friday. | |
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