This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7694408.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Extremists to be barred from UK Extremists face tougher UK entry
(about 4 hours later)
Tougher measures to prevent extremists entering the UK have been announced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. A "presumption in favour of exclusion" is being introduced to make it easier to prevent extremists entering the UK, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said.
They are designed to stop people - including so-called "preachers of hate" - stirring up tension. Ms Smith said it would now be up to the individual concerned to prove they would not "stir up tension" in the UK.
The names of some of the people being excluded will now be published. There have been 230 people barred since 2005. For the first time a list of the names of those excluded - including so-called "preachers of hate" - will be published and shared with other countries.
Ms Smith said there would now be "a presumption in favour of exclusion" for those people "fostering, encouraging or spreading extremism and hatred". Since 2005 230 people have been barred from entering the UK.
The changes mean it will be up to the individual concerned to prove they will not "stir up tension". Ms Smith said: "Through these tough new measures I will stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country.
'Privilege' "Coming to the UK is a privilege and I refuse to extend that privilege to individuals who abuse our standards and values to undermine our way of life." class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7695317.stm">Who are those banned from Britain?
Ms Smith added: "Through these tough new measures I will stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country. The changes will not require new legislation and are aimed at tackling radical Islamists, neo-Nazis and violent animal rights activists.
"Coming to the UK is a privilege and I refuse to extend that privilege to individuals who abuse our standards and values to undermine our way of life. " But Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve was dismissive of the changes, saying: "This announcement is more spin than substance. The real issue is preventing extremists from coming here, not advertising it after the event.
The 230 previously blocked have included neo-Nazis, holocaust deniers and animal rights activists. About 80 of them have been religious extremists. "If the home secretary is at last committed to applying the powers she has, robustly and consistently, then we welcome it, but why has it taken this government so long?"
The radical Muslim cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed was banned from the UK following the bombings in London in July 2005. The measures announced will:
    class="bulletList">
  • create a presumption in favour of exclusion for people who have engaged in fostering, encouraging or spreading extremism and hatred
  • put the burden of proof on individuals to show they have renounced previous extremist views
  • allow for the exclusion of nationals from the European Economic Area before they travel to the UK
  • increase cooperation with other agencies to improve the evidence base underpinning exclusions
  • allow for the "naming and shaming" of excluded people
The measures do not go far enough to according to Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne, who also said naming extremists was a "tawdry gimmick" that could lead to ministers being sued for libel.
HAVE YOUR SAYBar anyone who goes against the British norm and stirs up anti-social behaviour by advocating violent methods to change society. Alan Ward, Sydney, AustraliaSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYBar anyone who goes against the British norm and stirs up anti-social behaviour by advocating violent methods to change society. Alan Ward, Sydney, AustraliaSend us your comments
The then Home Secretary Charles Clarke used existing powers to exclude Mr Mohammed as his presence was "not conducive to the public good". He said: "It is quite right to exclude anyone whose speech is likely to prove so inflammatory as to provoke violence or racial hatred, but these ideas add nothing since the government has already excluded 79 preachers of hate in three years.
Other people to have been excluded from the UK include Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, from the US, in 2002 and Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who lives in Qatar, earlier in 2008. "The real need is for quiet intelligence to tackle British preachers of hate, and to block hate-filled internet sites.
When Muslim cleric Mr al-Qaradawi was refused a visa, the Home Office said the UK would not tolerate the presence of those who sought to justify acts of terrorist violence. "Given the Home Office's track record of error, there must be adequate safeguards and checks to stop the exclusion of innocent people."
In 2004 then Home Secretary David Blunkett wrote to US animal rights activist Dr Jerry Vlasak, who had reportedly incited violence against vivisectionists, to say he would not be allowed into the UK. Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Committee, said there should be tougher measures to help remove foreigners inciting violence who are already based in the UK.
Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg are also among those to have been denied entry to the UK from the US. The lifestyle guru and the rapper had been convicted of crimes, which formed the basis of their exclusions.
Patrick Mercer MP and Inayat Bunglawala say the proposals are a "gimmick"Patrick Mercer MP and Inayat Bunglawala say the proposals are a "gimmick"
Patrick Mercer, a Conservative member of the Home Affairs Committee, says the strategy could target the wrong people. He said: "Along with being tougher on those wanting to enter the UK we must also get tougher on removing those that are already here.
He told the BBC: "It's the people who are working undercover, who aren't known about, who are working inside the community and influencing people there, they are the really dangerous people." "If they are convicted of inciting violence or related offences, they must be removed."
He claimed it would be better to concentrate on those already in the UK. Mr Vaz also said he was concerned information used to make exclusion decisions needed to be accurate, and that there needed to be a clear process in which to challenge a decision.
He said: "Let's try to get rid of them rather than trying to keep new people out."
Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne suggested the plans were inadequate and did not tackle those already living here or people preaching on the internet.
He said: "The main problem with these sort of eye-catching gimmicks is they don't make us any safer at all. What we're looking for is delivery."