The Conservative Muslim Forum always attends the annual Conservative Party Conference in force, and normally has an exhibition stand in the Party Zone. This year’s conference in Manchester from 1 – 4 October was no exception.

Attending the Party Conference is an excellent way of spreading the CMF’s message to Conservative Party members. Those CMF members who attend also have the opportunity to attend many interesting fringe meetings, and to broaden their range of contacts both within the Party and with the many non-governmental organisations (“NGOs”) which also attend the Party Conference.

Sadly our Chairman Mohammed Amin missed the conference for the first time in many years, as he was speaking in Provo, Utah, at the International Law and Religion Symposium “Religion and Religious Freedom in a Changing World” organised by Brigham Young University’s International Law and Religion Studies. A short report of his symposium session is at this link.

Below are just a few of the many pictures that we took at the Conference.

Firstly, some of the key members of the CMF team. From left to right:

1. Executive Secretary Shaheen Thantrey
2. Executive Member Attic Rahman
3. Deputy Chairman Ash Zaman
4. Executive Member Lady Sheikh
5. Executive Member Tahara Amin
6. Secretary Faruk Miah

To save space, they are not named again if they recur in the later pictures.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Ministerial Champion for the Midlands Engine the Rt Hon Sajid Javid, MP for Bromsgrove since 2010.

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps, MP for Welwyn Hatfield since 2005, and former Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party.

The Rt Hon Sir Eric Pickles, MP for Brentwood and Ongar 1992 – 2017, former Party Chairman and former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. He is currently the United Kingdom Special Envoy for post-Holocaust issues.

Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden since 2015. At the right of the picture after Lady Sheikh is Dr Anwara Ali who was co-opted onto the CMF Executive in November 2017.

Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, Chairman of Amar Foundation, member of the House of Lords since 1997 and MP for Torridge and West Devon 1987 – 1997.

Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate, member of the House of Lords since 2016, MP for Leeds North East 1997 – 1997, MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber 1999 – 2016.

From left to right, after Tahara Amin and Attic Rahman:

1. Cllr David Harding of Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, Northern Ireland
2. Cllr Suzy Webb of Spelthorne Borough Council and former Mayor of Spelthorne, who is a regular CMF volunteer
3. Roger Gilpin, Chairman of East Belfast Conservatives
4. Lady Sheikh
5. CMF Executive Member Dr Alam Ara Khan

The Lords Select Committee on Citizenship and Engagement was appointed on 29 June 2017 to consider citizenship and civic engagement, and to make recommendations. It is due to report by 31 March 2018.

Below are details of the Select Committee’s call for evidence, and a copy of the response submitted today by the Conservative Muslim Forum.

Call for evidence

The Committee has issued a call for evidence which is detailed on its website. For convenience, we have reproduced below the 12 specific asked in the call for evidence.

1. What does citizenship and civic engagement mean in the 21st century? Why does it matter, and how does it relate to questions of identity?
2. Citizenship is partly about membership and belonging. Are there ways we could strengthen people’s identity as citizens, whether they are citizens by birth or naturalisation? Could citizenship ceremonies or events throughout the educational process play a role? Should pride in being or becoming British be encouraged?
3. Civic engagement can be seen as both a responsibility and a right of citizenship. Beyond the existing legal framework, should citizens have additional formal rights and responsibilities? How do you see the relationship between the two? Should they have the force of law individually or be presented as reciprocal duties between citizen and state? How should they be monitored and/or enforced?
4. Do current laws encourage active political engagement? What are your views on changes to the franchise for national or local elections, including lowering the voting age? Should changes be made to the voting process or the voting registration process?
5. What should be the role of education in teaching and encouraging good citizenship? At what stages, from primary school through to university, should it be (a) available, and (b) compulsory? Should there be any exemptions? Should there be more emphasis on political participation, both inside and outside classes? How effective is current teaching? Do the curriculum and the qualifications that are currently offered need amending?
6. Do voluntary citizenship programmes such as the National Citizen Service do a good job of creating active citizens? Are they the right length? Should they be compulsory, and if so, when? Should they include a greater political element? Should they lead to a more public citizenship ceremony? Are they good value for money? What other routes exist for creating active citizens?
7. How can society support civic engagement? What responsibility should central government, devolved and local governments, third sector organisations and the individual have for encouraging civic engagement? What can the Government and Parliament do to support civil society initiatives to increase civic engagement?
8. What are the values that all of us who live in Britain should share and support? Can you identify any threats to these values, which affect the citizenship of, for instance, women or various minority groups? If so, how can their citizenship be strengthened?
9. Why do so many communities and groups feel “left behind”? Are there any specific factors which act as barriers to active citizenship faced by different communities or groups – white, BME, young, old, rural, urban? How might these barriers be overcome?
10. How do you see the relationship between citizenship and civic engagement on the one hand and social cohesion and integration on the other? What effect does the level of diversity in schools and workplaces have on integration in society as a whole? How can diversity and integration be increased concurrently?
11. How important are levels of English proficiency for first and second generation immigrants and what could be done to increase them, including through support for ESOL classes? Are there particular barriers faced by newcomers to Britain? Could the naturalisation process, including the citizenship test, be improved and if so, how?
12. Can you give examples of initiatives and role models that have helped promote a positive vision of British Citizenship within a tolerant and cohesive society?

Response from the Conservative Muslim Forum

8 September 2017

Clerk to the Select Committee on Citizenship and Civic Engagement
Committee Office
House of Lords
London SW1A 0PW

Sirs,

Call for Evidence by the Select Committee on Citizenship and Civic Engagement

The Executive Committee of the Conservative Muslim Forum attaches its response to the Committees call for evidence on Citizenship and Civic engagement.

The Conservative Muslim Forum (CMF) is an integral part of the Conservative Party. All CMF members are full members of the Party and we believe that the fundamental values of the Conservative Party such as recognising the importance of the family, scepticism of state control, a belief in private enterprise, low taxes and personal responsibility are values that appeal to British Muslims. Our aims and objectives can be found on our website at http://www.conservativemuslimforum.com/about-us/objectives

Respectfully,
Attic Rahman
Executive Member
For and on behalf of the Conservative Muslim Forum

Conservative Muslim Forum written response to a call for Evidence by the Select Committee on Citizenship and Civic Engagement

1 Being precise about terms

Citizenship and civic engagement are two separate issues and, an issue in their own right. Conflating them risks causing poor quality thinking.

1.1 Citizenship

Citizenship is an unavoidable legal concept that all states must deal with since the planet is divided into separate states, and each state must know which person are its citizens, and to be able to identify which foreign state a person may belong to. Some states permit dual citizenship while other states do not.

At its most fundamental, citizenship is purely a legal relationship. Becoming a citizen of the UK (whether by birth or naturalisation) gives an individual numerous legal rights set out in UK domestic law and in international law. At the same time, it causes the UK state to have certain rights over that individual such as the power to conscript that individual into the UK’s Armed Forces.

These legal relationships exist and continue irrespective of the attitude that the individual may have to the state. An individual who is completely alienated and who spies for a foreign power (such as the famous Cambridge spy ring) continues to be a citizen even though he may be guilty of treason.

The word citizenship is also used to describe and individuals psychological and emotional relationship with a state. However, it would be better to use alternative wording such as “active citizenship” or indeed “civic engagement” to avoid confusing a clear legal relationship with an emotional relationship that varies from person to person and may vary within one person over time.

1.2 Civic engagement

Civic engagement is an entirely separate issue from citizenship. One can be a citizen of a state without having any level of civic engagement with it. For example, by virtue of his birth CMF Chairman Mohammed Amin is a citizen of Pakistan although he last set foot in the country in 1952, and his civic engagement with Pakistan is essentially zero. Conversely a foreigner residing in the UK can be involved in civic engagement while having no right of citizenship. However, in order to help society, flourish in a peaceful and harmonious environment civic engagement should be encouraged and things taught should help people in practical ways.

Civic engagement is clearly a moral responsibility of all individuals. People who have a religious belief are normally required by their religious beliefs to have concern for the health and welfare of their fellow believers, but normally also to have concern for the rest of humanity. That is certainly the case with Judaism, Christianity and Islam. However, we risk going wrong when we attempt to codify moral responsibilities into law.

Civic engagement is in part about the way that an individual residing in a state (who may or may not be a citizen) engages with the organs of that state (for example by voting in elections). Perhaps much more importantly, civic engagement is also about how individuals residing in a state deal with fellow members of their society and become involved in civil society organisations, such as political parties, trade unions, think tanks, charities, religious organisations etc. Civic engagement is protean and dynamic by nature and not compulsory. This means that anyone can take part even if they are not a citizen. Globalisation and the rise of social media now means that one can be halfway around the world and still participate in civic life. Furthermore, civic engagement is means by which citizens shape and redefine the relationships between them and the government. This can take the form of referendums, elections or by protesting.

There is in practice some linkage between citizenship and civic engagement since those who don’t have citizenship rights can feel left out and excluded from society.

2 Promoting civic engagement

2.1 The role of education

Education plays a fundamental role in mentoring children from a young child into a good human being. Unfortunately, much of the educational system appears to have forgotten that with its obsessive focus on the transmission of factual information and commercially valuable skills.

At every stage of the educational system, focus is required to ensure that the education is contributing towards producing an individual who will be civically engaged and a “good citizen” in the classically understood meaning of that phrase.

It is with regret, recent evidence suggests the greatest impediment is the large-scale presence of left-wing teachers who are hostile to the state and hostile to civic engagement.

Good citizenship should be encouraged through the education system up to the age of 16 GCSEs. The education system does not actually ask you to think but rather to regurgitate facts.

As part of ‘good citizenship’ the CMF believes there should be more political engagement both in and outside the class. Politics controls and shapes the decisions we make through the policies and taxes that are implemented. As such, because it affects everyone it should be part of combined syllabus with citizenship.

2.1.1 In the classroom

The CMF proposes this could be implemented by enabling schools to put significant effort into developing debating societies so that pupils understand how to argue a point and learn how to see through poor quality arguments.

The CMF believes the curriculum should change so that it focuses on a smaller number of core subjects in order to create space for the teaching of active citizenship combined with history. It is impossible to teach more of something, without teaching less of something else.

The problem is that there is a general unwillingness to take tough decisions. An example is the level of outrage when the then Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove introduced the so-called English E-Bacc so that only a small number of specified subjects would count towards a particular league table for English schools. There were howls of outrage from teachers of subjects that were not included.

It is highly desirable that citizens of Britain should have a positive attitude to the state and a positive attitude to the generality of their fellow citizens. An essential part of this is appropriate teaching of history, which is why history in all countries is almost always the most contentious item in the school curriculum. In that regard, the Curriculum for Cohesion project which Mohammed Amin is a patron had much useful to say in its submission to the 2013 review of the National Curriculum for History. See their document “A Broader, Truer History for All” which can be downloaded via the link

http://curriculumforcohesion.org/read/submission-to-national-curriculum-review/

2.1.2 Out of the classroom

The National Citizenship Service has been a resounding success, notwithstanding its slow start. The writer Attic Rahmans’ daughter has recently attended an NCS programme which brings together many teenagers from all backgrounds all of whom are required to interact and solve problems through tasks which build on interaction and teamwork. Another example, is the Duke of Edinburgh awards. The CMF supports such programmes and, proposes more is done to encourage and support them.

Whether they should become compulsory, raises some very hard questions. For maximum effectiveness, citizenship programmes should be compulsory. Every Jewish citizen of Israel (apart from the Haredim which is a separate political issue) is required to serve in the Israeli Defense Force and this is a strong contributor to civic identification.

However, there is a significant cost involved, both in terms of direct government expenditure and in the lost earnings represented by the time spent during military service.

There would be much to be said for a six month compulsory UK National Citizen Service obligation, which took the individual away from their home and had them involved in social action combined with intensive absorption of history and political understanding. However, massive political objection can be expected to any such proposal.

2.2 Addressing the Electoral System

There is no panacea to achieving greater civic engagement. Instead, lots of specific actions are required at all levels of government. For example, many citizens live in constituencies which are very safe for either the Labour Party for the Conservative Party. It is perfectly rational for voters in such constituencies to not bother voting.

A change to the electoral system, preferably having larger multimember constituencies with the election being counted using the single transferable vote would dramatically change the situation because suddenly every vote would count. There were no longer be rational for any voter to not bother voting.

Similarly, some local authorities are dominated by one party or the other. Mohammed Amin lives in Manchester where every single councillor is a member of the Labour Party, and that has been the case for many years except when a Labour Party councillor defects for a limited period of time.

Accordingly, it is rational for voters in Manchester to abstain. A change in the electoral system to ensure that every vote mattered (as outlined above) would again produce a significant difference in voter turnout and in the engagement of voters.

2.3 Changing the voting age

As we mention above and elsewhere, political engagement should be encouraged from an early age, on the basis it invites debates and encourages participation in a process which has a fundamental effect on their lives and livelihood, both in the present and future.

The process from teaching in school to beyond the classroom can be put to effect, for example by lowering the voting age to 16. There is no evidence that today’s 16-17-year-olds are any less well-informed than many much older people who may have had very little education when young and added very little to it during their lives. Indeed, the opposite was shown to be true in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum. Another example, and we say with caution, is the overwhelming support for Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 General Election. Both examples showed, the younger generation are very much interested in politics and have a desire to play a part. Such enthusiasm is a credit to society and, our political leaders should bear this in mind when they are next invited to a live TV debate.

Lowering the voting age is a positive step towards encouraging young people to get involved in the world around them at a young age which bodes well for the long term prosperity of the UK. It also strengthens democracy.

2.4 Creating more diverse schools and workplaces

Building civic engagement beyond narrow ethnic and religious groups requires making more diverse the environments where people spend most of their time.

As far as workplaces are concerned, the law against discrimination set out in the Equality Act 2010 is excellent. However specific changes in practice are required. For example, building on points that David Cameron and Theresa May have made before, the law should mandate name-blind recruitment application forms throughout not just the public sector but also the private sector.

Regarding schools, the most pernicious factor reducing diversity is the overwhelming weight given to geographical proximity when allocating school places. This leads to clustering by wealth around successful schools. Furthermore, it means that schools amplify existing geographical residential segregation.

The CMF suggests a specific change. For each state school, a particular radius should be specified (different within cities and rural areas). All applicants for places who live within that circular radius should be regarded as having equal geographical proximity. The school should also be given the obligation when allocating places to achieve a diverse pupil body that matches, as far as possible, all of the young people residing within the specified radius. This would significantly increase school diversity.

2.5 Learning from other countries

The UK could learn much from the way Countries such as the USA have always promoted allegiance to the country through their written Constitution.

Such allegiance is practically implemented through their education system – learning the national anthem and reading of America’s history; flying the national flag outside all public buildings and outside individuals’ homes etc. The UK, by contrast doesn’t have a codified written constitution and, takes no such steps to build a sense of allegiance.

3 Vulnerable groups

It is the CMF’s view, there are no ‘vulnerable groups’ when it comes to citizenship or civic engagement. We refer to an attack on ‘British’ values below – they are two distinct matters. The way to strengthen the citizenship of say for example, women or minority groups is the same way that we should strengthen the citizenship of every citizen. Ensuring that people can exercise their rights, using the full force of the law against those who deny people their rights, and appropriate citizenship education.

The CMF as a forum engaging with the BAME and Muslim population, finds those who feel “left behind” do so because:

• They feel a sense of entitlement. Most of those who express this sentiment are white British people who feel superior to ethnic minorities and superior to European migrants.
• They are aware that their economic circumstances do not match their sense of entitlement.
• Expressing resentment at being left behind is an easier course of action than making changes in their own lives that would improve their economic circumstances.

There may also be some amongst ethnic minorities who share the same three factors, but in general ethnic minorities do not feel the same sense of entitlement that is felt by some marginalised poor white British people.

Barriers to active citizenship, are primarily those of perception. For example, making the English language a mandatory requirement led to some resentment, although there are sound reasons for having such a requirement. The CMF believes part of the problem is that the government has spent too much time talking about the importance of learning English while reducing funding for the teaching of English outside the school environment.

It is important to provide English classes without charge to everyone living in the UK who wishes to access them. This is relevant particularly to newcomers to Britain who chose to take up citizenship. Encouraging them to take up learning to read, write and speak the English language is much better way to achieve a tolerant society, than an arduous citizenship test, which many people born and brought up in Britain may struggle to pass.

As another example, if someone believes that they will be discriminated against are not accepted into a group, they will often avoid even trying to join that group. Mohammed Amin suspects that this is the main reason why ethnic minorities are less well represented in mainstream political parties than are people who are white British. The same point applies to young people. With a Conservative Party that is on average somewhat geriatric, it may appear somewhat forbidding for a teenager to seek to join that party.

However, the perceptions of such ‘barriers’ can be overcome by (a) teaching young people to be more self-aware and to be more self-confident. As indicated earlier, the education system appears to place insufficient emphasis on this; and (b) encouraging and supporting integration of people from different backgrounds, culture, beliefs in shared values in a tolerant and cohesive society.

4 Citizen’s rights and responsibilities

The fundamental rights of British citizens arise from UK law – whether such rights emanate from primary legislation and/or the common law. In addition, British citizens also benefit from rights that are set out in key international documents such as the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. An example of why the ECHR is needed is that on many occasions British citizens have had to litigate under the ECHR because the UK state was attempting to deny them rights which it had promised under the ECHR to uphold.

The only legal duty a citizen owes the state is to obey the law – this is the primary obligation. Herein lay an argument for a list of “responsibilities”, for example, to pay all taxes due. However, this is nothing more than a repetition of what is already an obligation in law.

Everything beyond the primary obligation to obey the law, such as the moral responsibility to be civically engaged, and to care for other members of society, concerns things which are not suitable for legislation. Put simply, the rights of a human cannot be said, to be contingent upon their acceptance of responsibilities. A person has a right not to be tortured, regardless of whether he is generous to others or selfish, and indeed regardless of whether he is law-abiding or a criminal.

For these reasons, the CMF believes the state’s power to monitor and enforce must be limited to the law. We appreciate, the lines can sometimes be blurred when we consider the first priority of the state is to protect the nation and its people, both from threats within its territory and from elements who try to enter its territory. It is also right and proper however, in its exercise of such powers, the State must have regard to the rights of its citizens.

5 The voter registration system

The voting registration process and the voting process both need to balance two separate objectives. They need to be easy for the individual but at the same time they need to minimise the risk of fraud by the individual and also fraud by the state in the form of manipulation of the count.

6 British values

This is a very broad question. The Department for Education has published a list of values, and that list is reproduced below, quoting from the Department for Education’s model funding agreement for academies, September 2015 version:

“2.47. The Academy Trust must ensure the Academy actively promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

The list is fine although Mohammed Amin has explained at the link below why it is counter-productive calling them “British values.” Most fundamentally, there is nothing exclusively British about them and they are just as much French values, German values, American values or indeed Islamic values.

http://www.mohammedamin.com/Community issues/Theresa-May-March-2015/Home-Secretary-Extremism-speech-23-3-2015.html

However, one chooses to describe or ascribe to “British values”, the CMF believes citizens should learn to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality and to society more widely. For example, encouraging respect for other people, cultures, traditions. But also, respect for democracy, our public institutions and democratic processes.

This should lead to a further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions through an appreciation for and respect for their own and other cultures.

While authorship of the quote is disputed, few would dispute that “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.”

Our society’s values are today under threat from racist groups who seek to deny equality to ethnic minorities, religious bigots who seek to deny equality to adherents of minority religions such as Islam, anti-Semites, extremist Muslims seeking to impose a caliphate who vilify Muslims who vote in British elections, to name but a few. Such people are in the minority.

There are plenty of examples of role models promoting a positive vision of a tolerant and cohesive society, including the CMF’s President, Lord Sheikh and members of the Executive Board (although less well known), Sir Mo Farah, and our former and current Prime Ministers, David Cameron and Theresa May.

Conservative Muslim Forum

On Sunday 23 July 2017, Croydon Conservatives held a fundraising barbecue, hosted by Charles Lise, Chairman of Croydon North Conservatives.

CMF Executive Member Mike Mogul attended and played an essential role by cooking on the barbecue. Such informal occasions are great opportunities for meeting people. For example, the picture below includes the following people:

• Mike Mogul – second from right, wearing a jacket.
• Cllr Jason Cummings, represents Heathfield Ward on Croydon Council, who has since become a full-time political advisor to the Prime Minister – second from left, wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt.
• Cllr Steve O’Connell, represents Kenley Ward on Croydon Council, and also a member of the Greater London Assembly for Croydon and Sutton – front centre wearing beard, white shirt and jeans.

One of our key messages is that Muslims need to play their full part in wider society, and Muslim Conservatives need to be active inside the wider Conservative Party.

CMF Executive Member Mike Mogul was tireless during the recent general election campaign in canvassing for the Conservative candidates in Croydon.

Accordingly, when Chris Philp threw a “thank you” event for the people who helped to get him re-elected as MP for Croydon South, Mike was of course invited.

He can been seen celebrating in the picture below. From left to right:

1. Margaret Bird, Councillor for Coulsdon East Ward, Croydon Council.
2. Mike Mogul
3. Chris Philp, MP for Croydon South
4. Yvette Hopley, Councillor for Sanderstead Ward, Croydon Council.

On Saturday 1 July 2017, over 20 people from the CMF were privileged to visit Amaravati Buddhist Monastery near Hemel Hempstead as guest of the head of the monastery, the Venerable Ajahn Amaro.

As stated in our constitution, membership of the CMF is open to all, irrespective of religious belief. Indeed, two of the members of the CMF’s Executive are non-Muslim. One of them, Ajantha Tennakoon organises an interfaith event each year, and the 2017 event was hosted at the House of Lords by Lord Sheikh, on 1 February 2017. The Venerable Ajahn Amaro spoke at the event, and invited us to visit his monastery.

Once the visitors had travelled independently to the monastery, the visit began with an informative talk about Buddhism from Ajahn Amaro.

The CMF visitors, along with other public visitors to the monastery then took part in the monastery’s regular morning Buddhist service.

The picture below shows the party visiting that part of the temple afterwards during the guided tour we were given.

The monastery feeds all its visitors in the morning, relying on food which has been donated to it.

More details on visiting the monastery are on its website at this link.

The group photo below shows some of our party. The Venerable Ajahn Amaro is in the front row, with Ajantha Tennakoon wearing white on his left.

The monastery is set in very spacious grounds, as indicated by the photographs below.

We awoke this morning to news of another hate motivated attack on innocent people.

While details are still emerging, reliable media have reported that a van driven by a white male individual deliberately ploughed into a group of Muslims outside the Muslim Welfare House near the Finsbury Park Mosque. The driver was captured by the Muslim group and passed into police custody. He is reported to have said that he wished to kill all Muslims.

This attack is yet another example of how hatred can divide our society if we let it.

The Conservative Muslim Forum will continue to direct our efforts to building a society where people of all faiths and none can live and prosper in peace and harmony.

We have also copied below the full text of the Prime Minister’s statement in Downing Street this morning which we welcome.

This morning, our country woke to news of another terrorist attack on the streets of our capital city: the second this month and every bit as sickening as those which have come before.

It was an attack that once again targeted the ordinary and the innocent going about their daily lives – this time British Muslims as they left a mosque having broken their fast and prayed together at this sacred time of year.

Today we come together – as we have done before – to condemn this act and to state once again that hatred and evil of this kind will never succeed.

The government’s Emergency Committee, COBRA, has just met and I can set out what we know about what happened, and the steps that we are taking to respond.

Just after twenty-past midnight, the Metropolitan Police received reports that a van had been driven into a crowd of people on Seven Sisters Road in Finsbury Park.

Officers were in the immediate vicinity as the attack unfolded and responded within one minute.

Police declared it a terrorist incident within 8 minutes.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene; 8 injured were taken to 3 separate hospitals; while 2 were treated at the scene for more minor injuries.

The driver of the van – a white man aged 48 – was bravely detained by members of the public at the scene and then arrested by police.

The early assessment by the police is that the attacker acted alone.

Our thoughts and prayers this morning are with the family and friends of the man who died and those who were injured.

On behalf of the people of London – and the whole country – I want to thank the police and the emergency services once again for responding as they always do with great professionalism and courage.

Extra police resources have already been deployed to reassure communities, and the police will continue to assess the security needs of Mosques and provide any additional resources needed, especially during this final week before Eid Al-Fitr, a particularly important time for the whole Muslim community.

This was an attack on Muslims near their place of worship. And like all terrorism, in whatever form, it shares the same fundamental goal.

It seeks to drive us apart; and to break the precious bonds of solidarity and citizenship that we share in this country.

We will not let this happen.

When I stood here for the first time as Prime Minister last summer I spoke about our precious belief in the Union – not just the bond between the four nations of the United Kingdom – but the bond between all our citizens, every one of us, whoever we are and wherever we are from.

At the heart of that bond is a belief in the fundamental freedoms and liberties that we all cherish; the freedom of speech; the freedom to live how we choose and yes, the freedom to practice religion in peace.

This morning we have seen a sickening attempt to destroy those freedoms; and to break those bonds of citizenship that define our United Kingdom.

It is a reminder that terrorism, extremism and hatred take many forms; and our determination to tackle them must be the same whoever is responsible.

As I said here two weeks ago, there has been far too much tolerance of extremism in our country over many years – and that means extremism of any kind, including Islamophobia.

That is why this government will act to stamp out extremist and hateful ideology – both across society and on the internet, so it is denied a safe space to grow.

It is why we will be reviewing our Counter-Terrorism strategy and ensuring that police and security services have the powers they need.

And it is why we will establish a new Commission for Countering Extremism as a statutory body to help fight hatred and extremism in the same way as we have fought racism – because this extremism is every bit as insidious and destructive to our values and our way of life and we will stop at nothing to defeat it.

Today’s attack falls at a difficult time in the life of this city, following on from the attack on London Bridge 2 weeks ago – and of course the unimaginable tragedy of Grenfell Tower last week, on which I will chair another meeting of Ministers and officials later today.

But what we have seen throughout – whether in the heroism of the ordinary citizens who fought off the attackers at London Bridge; the unbreakable resolve of the residents in Kensington; or this morning the spirit of the community that apprehended this attacker – is that this is an extraordinary city of extraordinary people.

It is home to a multitude of communities that together make London one of the greatest cities on earth.

Diverse, welcoming, vibrant, compassionate, confident and determined never to give in to hate.

These are the values that define this city.

These are the values that define this country.

These are the values that this government will uphold.

These are the values that will prevail.

On Saturday evening, while Britain still mourned the victims of the suicide bombing in Manchester, our country was attacked again by terrorists seeking to kill as many people as possible. Seven people enjoying a summer evening at London Bridge were murdered, and dozens seriously injured, before our heroic policemen and policewomen brought the incident to an end within eight minutes of the attack starting.

The terrorists have not been named, but news stories have reported that they claimed to be acting in the name of Islam. That is also consistent with the Prime Minister’s statement on Sunday morning, which is reproduced below.

The CMF Executive is horrified that such killers have struck our country twice in less than two weeks. Our deepest condolences go out to those who have lost loved ones, and those who have been wounded.

The PM spoke for the nation on Sunday morning. We believe that Britons will defeat this scourge by coming together as one society, determined to stand together and to drive out extremism of all types. To quote the PM:

“As a country, our response must be as it has always been when we have been confronted by violence. We must come together, we must pull together, and united we will take on and defeat our enemies.’”

The Prime Minister said in Downing Street on Sunday morning:

‘Last night, our country fell victim to a brutal terrorist attack once again. As a result I have just chaired a meeting of the Government’s emergency committee and I want to update you with the latest information about the attack.

Shortly before ten past ten yesterday evening, the Metropolitan Police received reports that a white van had struck pedestrians on London Bridge. It continued to drive from London Bridge to Borough Market, where three terrorists left the van and attacked innocent and unarmed civilians with blades and knives. All three were wearing what appeared to be explosive vests, but the police have established that this clothing was fake and worn only to spread panic and fear.

As so often in such serious situations, the police responded with great courage and great speed. Armed officers from the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police arrived at Borough Market within moments, and shot and killed the three suspects. The terrorists were confronted and shot by armed officers within eight minutes of the police receiving the first emergency call.

Seven people have died as a result of the attack, in addition to the three suspects shot dead by the police. 48 people are being treated in several hospitals across London. Many have life threatening conditions.

On behalf of the people of London, and on behalf of the whole country, I want to thank and pay tribute to the professionalism and bravery of the police and the emergency services – and the courage of members of the public who defended themselves and others from the attackers. And our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and with their friends, families and loved ones.

This is, as we all know, the third terrorist attack Britain has experienced in the last three months. In March, a similar attack took place, just around the corner on Westminster Bridge. Two weeks ago, the Manchester Arena was attacked by a suicide bomber. And now London has been struck once more.

And at the same time, the security and intelligence agencies have disrupted five credible plots since the Westminster attack in March.

In terms of their planning and execution, the recent attacks are not connected. But we believe we are experiencing a new trend in the threat we face, as terrorism breeds terrorism, and perpetrators are inspired to attack not only on the basis of carefully-constructed plots after years of planning and training – and not even as lone attackers radicalised online – but by copying one another and often using the crudest of means of attack.

We cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are. Things need to change, and they need to change in four important ways.

First, while the recent attacks are not connected by common networks, they are connected in one important sense. They are bound together by the single, evil ideology of Islamist extremism that preaches hatred, sows division, and promotes sectarianism. It is an ideology that claims our Western values of freedom, democracy and human rights are incompatible with the religion of Islam. It is an ideology that is a perversion of Islam and a perversion of the truth.

Defeating this ideology is one of the great challenges of our time. But it cannot be defeated through military intervention alone. It will not be defeated through the maintenance of a permanent, defensive counter-terrorism operation, however skilful its leaders and practitioners. It will only be defeated when we turn people’s minds away from this violence – and make them understand that our values – pluralistic, British values – are superior to anything offered by the preachers and supporters of hate.

Second, we cannot allow this ideology the safe space it needs to breed. Yet that is precisely what the internet – and the big companies that provide internet-based services – provide. We need to work with allied, democratic governments to reach international agreements that regulate cyberspace to prevent the spread of extremism and terrorist planning. And we need to do everything we can at home to reduce the risks of extremism online.

Third, while we need to deprive the extremists of their safe spaces online, we must not forget about the safe spaces that continue to exist in the real world. Yes, that means taking military action to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. But it also means taking action here at home. While we have made significant progress in recent years, there is – to be frank – far too much tolerance of extremism in our country. So we need to become far more robust in identifying it and stamping it out – across the public sector and across society. That will require some difficult and often embarrassing conversations, but the whole of our country needs to come together to take on this extremism – and we need to live our lives not in a series of separated, segregated communities but as one truly United Kingdom.

Fourth, we have a robust counter-terrorism strategy that has proved successful over many years. But as the nature of the threat we face becomes more complex, more fragmented, more hidden, especially online, the strategy needs to keep up. So in light of what we are learning about the changing threat, we need to review Britain’s counter-terrorism strategy to make sure the police and security services have all the powers they need. And if we need to increase the length of custodial sentences for terrorism-related offences, even apparently less serious offences, that is what we will do.

Since the emergence of the threat from Islamist-inspired terrorism, our country has made significant progress in disrupting plots and protecting the public. But it is time to say enough is enough. Everybody needs to go about their lives as they normally would. Our society should continue to function in accordance with our values. But when it comes to taking on extremism and terrorism, things need to change.

As a mark of respect two political parties have suspended our national campaigns for today. But violence can never be allowed to disrupt the democratic process. So those campaigns will resume in full tomorrow. And the general election will go ahead as planned on Thursday.

As a country, our response must be as it has always been when we have been confronted by violence. We must come together, we must pull together, and united we will take on and defeat our enemies.’

Manchester is one of the great cities of the United Kingdom. Last night, it was the venue for a pop concert starring the American singer Ariana Grande, attended by thousands of happy young children and adults, people from many different religious and ethnic backgrounds as Manchester is a very diverse city.

As they were leaving, many were killed by an explosion. At the time of writing, the death toll stands at 22, including adults and children.

The police have confirmed that this was a terrorist incident, carried out by a single suicide bomber. No further details have yet been released regarding the identity of the bomber, and we can assume that the police will be making every effort to identify whether there were accomplices.

In the days to come, there will be ample time for analysis and policy prescriptions.

Today, the thoughts and prayers of all of us are with the victims, their families and friends.

Today we also pay tribute to those from all religious and ethnic backgrounds in our police service, in our medical teams and those from all walks of life who responded to this emergency with a shared common aim – to help and protect the victims of this most horrific of crimes.

We will defeat this scourge by standing together, united against acts of terrorism.

A general election campaign is won constituency by constituency.

In the May 2015 general election, Conservative candidate Dan Watkins nearly took the seat from the sitting Labour MP the Rt Hon Sadiq Khan, who managed to hold on by only 2,842 votes. Dan fought the seat again in June 2016 in the by election after Sadiq Khan resigned the seat on becoming Mayor of London. Labour held on with an increased majority on a much reduced turnout.

CMF Chairman Mohammed Amin lives near Tooting and has known Dan for several years, so he went campainging for him in Tooting in the rain. Amin is impossible to miss below in his yellow rain protection, standing on Dan’s right.

On Tuesday 28 March, alongside Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) we hosted the NGO Merchavim Institute of Israel in Parliament.

Israel’s survival and flourishing over the last 66 years have shown that it is possible to build a vibrant multi-ethnic and multi-religious democracy, despite facing existential external threats and many internal challenges.  However, while Israel’s record is a beacon to other countries, more still needs to be done to fully integrate all of its citizens, and to ensure that all groups, including Israel Arabs and ultra-Orthodox Jews, play their full part in the country’s economy and in its defence.

Since 2006 the Merchavim Institute in Israel has had one clear goal: to establish a shared citizenship for all of Israel’s citizens. The event allowed the audience to learn about what Merchavim is doing, the challenges it faces, and how they can help. Most importantly, for those who have not personally visited Israel the evening was an opportunity to learn about the complexity of Israeli society.

CMF Chairman Mohammed Amin began by welcoming the guests. He mentioned that when discussion of Israel arises, he often asks people what proportion of Israelis are Muslims. Most answers he receives are far below the correct figure, which is 20%. In comparison, only 5% of Britons are Muslims. In Amin’s view, the CMF and CFI should be agreed on making Israel the best possible country for all of its citizens, and that is Merchavim’s goal.

Our Parliamentary host, Paul Scully, MP for Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park then opened the proceedings by sharing his personal experience of visiting Israel.

Chairing of the meeting was then handed over to Errol Rudnick, Chair of British Friends of Merchavim, a UK charity which helps to fund Merchavim’s work in Israel. The three Merchavim speakers from Israel were illustrative of the diversity of Israeli society:

1. Roi Maor – secular Jew of European family background.
2. Elisheva Darar – Jewish but born in Ethiopia.
3. Abeer Halabi – Druze Arab.

In particular, the speakers explained some of their projects. For example the Arab Teacher Integration in Jewish Schools Program both provides career opportunities for the Arab teachers and helps Jewish pupils to understand the benefits of Israel’s diversity.

More detailed speaker profiles

Roi Maor – Deputy Executive Director/CFO Merchavim

Roi Maor holds a Master’s degree in History from the Tel Aviv University. In the past he has held roles in senior management, resource development and financial management for a number of leading Israeli human rights organizations. Roi holds the dual role of Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Executive Director at Merchavim.

Elisheva Darar – Program Director, JDC Institute for Leadership and Governance

Elisheva made aliyah from Ethiopia to Israel at age five. She was educated and raised in the southern city of Kiryat Gat, and carried out her national service teaching in a primary school. Elisheva has a B.A. in political science and psychology from Bar Ilan University, and participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program of the US State Department on grassroots activism. Elisheva loves to influence the creation of a better society. To this end she has been involved in civil society organisations for more than a decade. In 2003, she coordinated a national coalition of 15 Ethiopian organisations and in 2005, she worked for a German agency for political and educational activism. For the past five years, first at the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and then at the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Elisheva has focused on relations between government and civil society. She is currently working on a project to improve social cohesion in Israeli society.

Abeer Halabi – Team Facilitator

Abeer Halabi was born and resides with her husband and two adult children in the Druze Arab village of Daliyat al Carmel, Mount Carmel, near the city of Haifa. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and has extensive experience leading diverse groups of women and conflict resolution groups. Additionally she is a member of the 2014 cohort of The Mastery Foundation community empowerment course for international leaders. Abeer is a Merchavim group facilitator.

Below from left to right:

1. Roi Maor
2. Mohammed Amin
3. Elisheva Darar
4. Abeer Halabi
5. Errol Rudnick