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Confront Muslim extremists - Reid Confront Muslim extremists - Reid
(40 minutes later)
Extremist Muslim "bullies" must be faced down so there is space for rational debate, Home Secretary John Reid has told the Labour conference. Extremist Muslim "bullies" must be faced down, John Reid told the Labour conference in a speech which heightened speculation of a leadership bid.
Mr Reid was recently heckled when he urged Muslim parents to guard against their children being radicalised. Mr Reid, recently heckled when he urged Muslim parents to guard against their children being radicalised, said: "We will not be brow beaten by bullies."
But he signalled he and other ministers would go out to urge communities to root out extremism. The home secretary did not explicitly say he would challenge Gordon Brown for the right to succeed Tony Blair.
"We will not be brow beaten by bullies, that's what it means to be British," he told Labour delegates. But he made clear he was ready to take the tough decisions leaders have to.
Mr Reid also said Tony Blair had asked him to review Britain's counter terrorism capacity in the light of this summer's alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic planes. Mr Reid is seen as one of the very few heavyweight figures who might challenge the overwhelming favourite, Chancellor Gordon Brown, for the Labour leadership.
He referred to that speculation by joking that he had not seen any reason to stand until ex-deputy leader Roy Hattersley said he would shoot himself if he became PM.
Cameron attack
Returning to the leadership contest subject at the end of his speech, he urged Labour to show a unity of purpose and common endeavour when the prime minister stepped down.
"Leadership isn't a zero sum game," he said.
"When one of us shines it doesn't diminish the others, it reflects on all of us. I pledge to you that I will play my part in that common endeavour."
He also attacked David Cameron's Conservatives for failing to show leadership by "talking tough and voting soft" on crime and immigration.
He added: "If they won't lead, we will."
'Step change'
Mr Reid said Tony Blair had asked him to review Britain's counter terrorism capacity in the light of this summer's alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic planes.
"We agree that we need a radical step change to ensure that there is a seamless co-ordinated approach to the now seamless threat," he said."We agree that we need a radical step change to ensure that there is a seamless co-ordinated approach to the now seamless threat," he said.
New laws?
His review of the Home Office, which he branded dysfunctional when he became home secretary, set out the priorities for his department.His review of the Home Office, which he branded dysfunctional when he became home secretary, set out the priorities for his department.
Now Mr Reid says he wants to show that Labour values of fairness underpin all his department's work in fighting crime, controlling immigration and keeping terrorism and extremism at bay.Now Mr Reid says he wants to show that Labour values of fairness underpin all his department's work in fighting crime, controlling immigration and keeping terrorism and extremism at bay.
Specific plans for new laws to ensure national security will be set out in the Queen's Speech this autumn. Specific plans for new laws to protect national security would be set out in the Queen's Speech this autumn.
But Mr Reid said Muslims were "owed our support" and he insisted there was no clash of civilisations. Courage call
Mr Reid said Muslims were "owed our support" and he insisted there was no clash of civilisations.
"It's not Muslims versus the rest of us," he said. "It's evil terrorists on one side against all civilised people on the other.""It's not Muslims versus the rest of us," he said. "It's evil terrorists on one side against all civilised people on the other."
And he said his controversial visit to Waltham Forest in east London last week may have been his first visit but it would not be his last. And he said his recent controversial visit to Waltham Forest in east London may have been his first visit but it would not be his last.
"Because if we in this movement are going to ask the decent, silent majority of Muslim men - and women - to have the encourage to face down the extremist bullies, then we need to have the courage and character to stand shoulder to shoulder with them doing it." "Because if we in this movement are going to ask the decent, silent majority of Muslim men - and women - to have the courage to face down the extremist bullies, then we need to have the courage and character to stand shoulder to shoulder with them doing it."
He said there would be no "no go" areas: "We will go where we place , we will discuss what we like." He said there would be no "no go" areas: "We will go where we want, we will discuss what we like."
Leadership bid? American alliance
Mr Reid is seen one of the very few possible heavyweight figures who might challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership. Mr Reid argued that global alliances were needed to fight terrorism, which meant Labour members overcoming some misgivings with the UK's friendship with President Bush.
He referred to that speculation by joking that he had not seen any reason to stand until Roy Hattersley said he would shoot himself if he became PM. He said the UK should tell President George Bush when he was wrong on climate change, stem cell research, civil partnerships and tax cuts.
Mr Reid, in a confident performance which referred to leadership at length, said that the only thing at the top of his "wish list" was seeing Labour win a fourth term Labour Government. But people should also remember they were engaged in a common struggle.
But his speech was immediately seen as effectively being his pitch to succeed Tony Blair as Labour leader. "You don't have to love everything George W Bush stands for to hate everything that Osama Bin Laden stands for," he said.
The end of the conference comes as the prime minister prepares to meet Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who has angrily dismissed claims in an Ministry of Defence report that his intelligence service supports al-Qaeda and the Taleban.
The leaked report by the Defence Academy - an MoD think tank - says the service indirectly backs terrorism by supporting religious groups in Pakistan.