“The Home Secretary is calling for more EU action against Islamic radicals, but critics say he should examine his own poor record.” From the TimesOnline, with thanks to Sr. Soph:
CHARLES CLARKE was criticised yesterday for talking tough on terrorism to the EU, but failing to order the deportation of extremist clerics from Britain.
The Home Secretary demanded tougher intelligence gathering powers within the EU to combat terrorism and said that laws preventing people being deported to places where they faced persecution might have to change….
After the July 7 bombings, Tony Blair insisted that the “rules of the game” had changed and two weeks ago Mr Clarke announced new rules for deportations with a pledge that moves would take effect “very quickly. The next few days.” Since then no action has been taken against any extremist under those rules. Immigration officials and police were given a list of targets to arrest, but the first raids were called off at the last minute with no explanation.