David Cameron has said that Muslims have a “special burden” to track down Islamist extremists.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman confirmed Mr Cameron agreed with Culture Secretary Sajid Javid who yesterday said it was “absolutely fair to say that there is a special burden on Muslim communities because, whether we like it or not, these terrorists call themselves Muslims”.
Speaking on Radio 5 Live, Mr Javid added that it was “lazy” and “wrong” to say that France’s terror attacks had nothing to do with Muslims.
Did I die and wake up in a parallel universe or something?
Dave “said” nothing. Rather Dave’s official spokesman said that Dave agreed or, more to the point, “would agree” with one unremarkable and uncontentious sentence uttered by his official “beard” on these matters, Culture Secretary Sajid Javid. In other words his spokesman is claiming not that Dave actually has stated his agreement with Javid but that, in the spokesman’s opinion and actual quoted words, Dave “would agree” if he were asked.
The important part of the Telegraph report is that Dave is winding himself up to legislate greater spying powers and a “snoopers charter”.
I’m surprised, LR, that you pay any attention to what Dave – or any member of the political class – says anyway. Rather, see what Dave actually does or doesn’t do to identify where Dave stands.
My usual cynicism aside – even this is a departure from the usual narrative is it not? Normally, they twist themselves in knots to deny it is anything to do with Islam.
Looks like a narrative change to me. Not action, sure. But words that wouldn’t have been said a week ago.
I suppose you could be cheered by analogy to the old Chinese saying that every 1,000 mile journey starts witha single step. But really! This is simply a mealy-mouthed non-statement by Cameron masking – or, rather, not masking – another erosion of our liberties.
I’m aware of the attack on our liberties, but these words from the heart of government are not the usual “nothing to do with Islam” trope.
This one made my blood run cold “German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday Islam “belongs to Germany”, in a clear repudiation of anti-immigration protesters gathering in Dresden and other cities.” WTF is wrong with these leaders!