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Being too PC led us to shelter terrorists, says ex-minister
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor27 Apr 2011
A former Labour minister admitted today that political correctness had led Britain to offer shelter to violent extremists.
Kim Howells, a former Foreign Office minister, said Tony Blair's government and other administrations had been afraid to criticise the conduct of radical preachers and others because they feared being accused of racism.
He said the policy had been pursued even though there was plenty of intelligence about the "evil" intent of such extremists and that it was only reversed after the 7/7 bombings. Mr Howells also said that he had been unable to find a single imam willing to say publicly that suicide bombers would go to hell. He further criticised a reluctance in Muslim communities to condemn the "murderous actions" of terrorists.
His comments came as a leaked diplomatic cable, published today by WikiLeaks, revealed Britain had been warned years before the London bombings to stop giving asylum to "very dangerous" terrorists.
The cable, sent by a former military attaché to the Algerian embassy in Washington on July 12 2005, told US diplomats that Britain had allowed extremists to raise money for terrorist causes.
"Did the English consider the risks of allowing Londonistan to develop?" the cable states. "The British thought that sheltering terrorists was a good solution, but they did not realise that one can never align oneself with the devil, and they did precisely that for years and years."
In a BBC interview today, Mr Howells admitted that the criticism was justified.
Reader views (17)
The very direct result of Anglo-American Conspiracy of 1979 in IRAN?
- arya, cumbria, 29/04/2011 12:17
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This is the direct result of Anglo-American Conspiracy of 1979 in Iran when British and Americans Created Khomeini to turn Iran into a Pure Islamic country and for this they had the best Tool Khomeini whose father was from Bristol City in England Mr William Richard Williamson known as HAJI WILLIAMSON?
As The Shah of Iran Warned The Greedy West about jinni of Islam which would come out of Bottle if The West Abandons him and that was exactly what Britain and US did to him and even worse they have Supported the Evil Terrorist Regime of Ayatollahs ever since.
- arya, cumbria, 29/04/2011 12:12
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Very good responses to the article. The U.S. is not far behind Great Britain in being overly PC. It's amazing that the average guy on the street has the intellect to see the dangers of allowing the terrorists so much latitude. Yet the people we elect who are suppose to be the brightest bulb in the batch, are clueless to the real dangers that we face in the world. The politicians are so afraid they may hurt someone's feelings and heaven forbid even possibly lose a vote. Collectively they are a bunch of cowardly lions without the back bone to stand up straight and be counted. Terrorists deserve zero tolerance and should all be rounded up and summarily dealt with in a way I will not mention here. I praise and admire those who have the gumption to stand up for true values and principles. God is great, but he doesn't condone the murder of innocent people anywhere in the world.
- Brian Arbuckle, Aiken, SC - USA, 29/04/2011 00:02
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So are all the people who called the BNP racist and fascist for saying this ten years ago going to concede the BNP were spot on? I doubt it. With councils like Newham, Hackney and Tower Hamlets falling over themselves to indulge every whim of the muslim communities, a government with no agenda or will to get rid of these Islam/fascists what chance for the rest of us? Meanwhile, those members of the Muslim community who have no desire to involve themselves with such idiots and are valued members of the community are tarred with the same brush of suspicion. The more these extreme elements flourish, the greater the problem becomes. Well done, Labour.
- Gatedweller, People's Republic of Newham, 27/04/2011 23:29
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Labour took their eye off the ball on this and other related issues that were patently obvious to the electorate, thereby ignoring the Elephant in the room. Governments are meant to lead and preside over a nation, to now learn from an ex Government Minister that they pursued a policy despite evidence that this put our nation in danger is, frankly, depressing.
Is the current Government going to tolerate this?
- Theodore Tugboat, Plumstead, London, SE18, 27/04/2011 22:10
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Socialists know better than anyone that imprisoning peoples' minds is far more effective than imprisoning them physically. Socialist governments seek to control not just what people say and write, but what they think as well. They do this by teaching people, over time, to self-regulate their expression. Not because they want to stop people saying something illegal - but to stop them thinking, writing, or saying something they WANT to be illegal. A full-blown, outright Stalinist tyranny has the same net result. And that's the idea, of course. The people are then imprisoned psychologically within the government's ideology - in our case, multiculturalism is the cell of choice. THAT'S how PC works - it's despicable. And, as we can see, extremely dangerous - all for a Utopia that will NEVER happen, but which brain-dead Guardian and Independent readers are willing to sacrifice their freedom for.
- joe get, london england, 27/04/2011 22:03
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These things always tell the truth when they've been booted out of office. The public have been telling these idiots that for years. We need a referendum now,, all we need to get one, is a Prime Minister with guts.
- Trafalgar Dreadnought Sherwood, UK, 27/04/2011 21:57
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"Being too PC led us to shelter terrorists, says ex-minister"
Well - Duh! Flash to bang time a bit elongated there mate. The rest of Britain has been aware of that for some time now.
- Rogan, Irving, 27/04/2011 21:45
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Huh - the biggest terrorist that Labour gave shelter to was General Pinochet - and that, like the alleged extremists, was nothing to do with being PC but a lack of principles. How else do you explain Tony Blair glad-handing the likes of Ghadaffi?
- Arfur Towcrate, Staffycher, 27/04/2011 20:39
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How very true. This country has the lousy reputation of being soft on everything. We have more laws than most country but cannot enforce the important ones relating to protecting us from immigrants of varying sorts. The Tories must quickly repair the damage that Labour left us with.
- Michael, Kensington, UK, 27/04/2011 18:40
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It's about time to dump political correctness along with the human rights act and the eu.
- Vince London, West London, 27/04/2011 17:24
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Ask anyone in the street Mr Politicain. It's called being GUTLESS and a coward. Sadly the prerequisite for being a politicain in Europe!
- mike, London, 27/04/2011 17:22
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Labour weakness in this area is well known and now well documented it is what this government does that we now need to worry about. I have a horrible feeling they will not be up to confronting the extremists here either for the very same reason labour could not and that is middle class guilt! Cannot kick a sardine out of a can they are so worried about human rights etc
- Gary, East London, 27/04/2011 16:09
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Big news yesterday! Why have the ES buried it here when we had to wait until today to send our comments, someone is getting scared!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Kat, London, 27/04/2011 15:03
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So Kim...
thats a girls name btw...are we supposed to be grateful for this new found enlightenment?
People have been telling you & your odious ex goverment this for yrs...
As a one time Labour voter...
I wish that you, along with all your ex colleagues..rot in hell
The acrid stench of hypocrisy & back peddaling sicken me....
- arthur Needles, Londonistan....thanks Kim & Co, 27/04/2011 14:22
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Why is this news story so low down the list today? Am I the only one who thinks this is important?
A Labour minister actually admitted they were WRONG. Headline news surely? Oh yes, and all the stuff about housing terrorists and the failures of socialist driven multiculturalism, but even so!
- Peter J, Canterbury, Kent, 27/04/2011 14:19
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As far as I can tell nothing's changed. There will be another atrocity in London unless radicalism is stamped out by those in charge and moderate muslims.
- Paul, IoD, London, 27/04/2011 14:14
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