Extreme right-wing groups will never have a place here – James Brokenshire

I know, like so many communities across the UK, the people of Yorkshire overwhelmingly reject this ideology and the groups that peddle it.

But there remains a minority who seek to spread fear, hate and division among us.

It was this violent ideology that inspired the shocking murder of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox in Birstall in 2016.

The subsequent actions of the right-wing terrorist group National Action – particularly online – helped make the case for the Government to ban the group in the UK in 2016. This has led to a number high-profile convictions.

But the threat from the extreme right-wing remains across the UK and has grown in recent years, which is why we must take further action.

Since 2017, eight right-wing terrorist plots have been foiled by our outstanding police and security services.

Home Office statistics show that increasing numbers of individuals are being referred to the Government’s Prevent deradicalization programme over far-right ideologies.

Of the 561 individuals who were adopted to a local Channel panel last year, 45 per cent were referred for concerns related to right-wing terrorism. This compares to 37 per cent that were referred for concerns related to Islamist terrorism.

In late 2019, two teenage members of a group called Sonnenkrieg Division (SKD) were jailed for, amongst other offences, encouraging others that subscribed to their world view to participate in overt acts of violence.

Michal Szewczuk, from Leeds, was one of them and is now serving a four-year sentence.

Earlier this week I laid an order in Parliament to proscribe SKD as illegal in the UK.

Today, that order is due to come into force, meaning that membership of the group is punishable by up to 10 years in jail. Supporting its aims, ideals or members can be met with the same punishment.

Proscription is an important weapon in our arsenal against these hateful terrorist groups.

Since the banning of National Action, former members have sought to worm their way back onto the right side of the law by under the guise of the System Resistance Network.

That’s why this week we have also designated System Resistance Network as an alias of National Action, making membership of that organisation illegal too.

I will not tolerate any group that seeks to subvert our democracy and tear apart the ideals that bring us together.

SKD sought to do just that. They do so by promoting our diversity as a reason to hate and fear one another. They target minorities, of all forms, and lay blame at their feet. These lies sow discord amongst us, create fear and attempt to turn neighbour against neighbour, friend against friend, community against community.

We are taking action to tackle the threats posed by all terrorist ideologies. New, tougher counter-terror sentencing laws will keep terrorist offenders locked up for longer.

An additional 20,000 police officers will strengthen the frontline of policing, and £90m more funding for counter-terrorism police will support more specialist investigations.

Thankfully the extreme right-wing still represents only a tiny minority of the population. Of course the threat isn’t unique to Yorkshire, but the incidents here are sobering illustrations of what faces communities all of the UK.

Through my previous roles in Government, I have been lucky enough to visit Yorkshire and learn more about this diverse, forward thinking region made up of vibrant communities that live and work shoulder to shoulder.

I’m proud of the continued resolve Yorkshire has shown rejecting extreme right-wing groups and showing that they, and their hateful ideologies, 
have no place here or anywhere else.

As the Minister of State for Security, I will use all the tools at my disposal to keep you safe.

James Brokenshire MP is Minister of State for Security.