Terrorism: Domestic Extremism Debate

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Department: Home Office

Terrorism: Domestic Extremism

Lord Singh of Wimbledon Excerpts
Wednesday 26th April 2017

(7 years, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Williams of Trafford Portrait Baroness Williams of Trafford
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My Lords, clearly events have overtaken us. Tomorrow we will prorogue and this will be in the hands of the next Government—it might be a Labour one—to decide whether to bring forward such legislation. Yes, at the time of the last Queen’s speech that was our intention.

Lord Singh of Wimbledon Portrait Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)
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My Lords, I emphasise the concern over definitions. In the 1980s, when Sikhs were persecuted throughout India, when they were blamed and called terrorists and extremists, I was asked by the BBC whether I was a moderate or an extremist. I replied, “I am extremely moderate”. Such words have no meaning. We must get beyond these smear definitions and look to what actually concerns us.

Baroness Williams of Trafford Portrait Baroness Williams of Trafford
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As someone who is extremely moderate as well, I do not disagree with the noble Lord. The point I was making in my Answer to the Question is that this definition was made by the police.