The terrorist threat we face is serious in scale and duration. It is both international and home-grown
States not only use armed force to challenge us. They play politics with the resources on which we depend, like gas and oil. They launch electronic attacks against the systems that underpin our daily lives. And they threaten regional stability through nuclear proliferation.
In addition, natural hazards, like flooding and disease, are increasing in frequency, scale and severity.
All of these challenges are transnational. Meeting them requires concerted international co-operation and responses that cut across many policy areas – not only foreign affairs, defence and internal security, but energy, education, community cohesion, health, technology and the environment.
So government must adapt. Foreign and domestic policy cannot be treated separately in policy and budgetary terms. We will introduce a proper National Security Council, a single National Security Budget and a Cabinet-level Security Minister to ensure a joined-up approach.
And government must have the right policies to help reduce our vulnerability:
- We need effective border security. A Conservative Government will introduce a unified border police force.
- While intelligence, police and military tools will remain vital, we must also defend and make the argument for our shared liberal values. That’s why, unlike Labour, we will tackle the extremism that fuels terrorist attacks – not just ‘violent extremism’. And it’s why we will prioritise long-term political and social reform overseas.
- We need to protect and increase the capacity of our critical infrastructure so that we are able to withstand and respond to disruption.
Our approach will be outlined in detail in our National Security Green Paper, which will be published in the coming months.
Jack hi! Regarding dispatches report 1 March 2010 on the links between Respects Mr Galloways, the IFE (who were concentrated in Tower Hamlets but have now spread their networks throughtout the UK), and preachers of islamic fundementalism at the London Mosque. How will conservative polices address the issue of radicalisation not only of muslims but also the far right BNP – is this a dangerous polarisation of beliefs within the context of the UK?
Hi Mick,
No easy answer to this one and certainly not something I can do full justice to on a single blog post so give me a ring on 07855470449 if you’d like to know more.
However, for now I think they keys areas are:
- Strengthen a community’s knowledge of what is being done in its name through better transparency, accountability and more direct democracy.
- Redress the inequality of opportunity that has risen under Labour. As the professions have become more middle class so routes out of poverty are harder to come by. A Conservative laser-like focus on opportunity will help the country by making sure we make best use of our talent and will offer the most vulnerable to radicalisation a reason to stay out of trouble and apply themselves constructively.
- Finally, we need to send the message that inciting of hatred will not be tolerated. Doing that is not about new legislation but about the police being allowed to deal with thugs effectively and about communities being empowered to stand up to the bullies that walk amongst them.
Does that help for now?
Jack
- Finally, we need to