Thursday, 18 March 2010
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Softening ... Mr Malik
Millions spent preventing Asian kids becoming terrorists will now be used to tackle right-wing racists in WHITE areas.
Community cohesion minister Shahid Malik admitted he was softening his stance because Muslims felt stigmatised.
But a former Labour aide called the move a "dangerous dilution" of the Government's counter-terrorism strategy.
Tories branded it a shameless bid to win back Muslim voters who deserted Labour over Iraq and Afghanistan.
More than £45million a year has been spent on measures to prevent Al-Qaeda recruiting young Muslims in the UK.
It included action to break up Islamic ghettos and stop university hate preachers.
But Mr Malik, the first British-born Muslim MP, yesterday unveiled plans to broaden the scope of the campaign.
He announced: "We shall be putting a renewed focus on resisting right-wing racist extremism. We cannot dismiss or underestimate the threat."
Mr Malik told Sky News: "You speak to any Muslim in this country and they are as opposed as you and I are to extremism and terrorism.
"The frustration is they are constantly linked with terrorism as a community as a whole."
His action contrasts with the tough stance of ex-minister Hazel Blears. She broke links with Muslim groups that failed to denounce extremists.
Her adviser Paul Richards said: "The good work by Hazel is being undone in the name of political correctness."
Former shadow home secretary David Davis said: "This has been watered down for purely political reasons. Labour has always seen Muslim voters as its own property."
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