Paul Richards

Primary schools or training camps?

When Ed Balls left a Labour fundraiser at a Westminster curry house last Wednesday to be interviewed on Newsnight, he had the look of a man with an ace up his sleeve.

issue 05 December 2009

When Ed Balls left a Labour fundraiser at a Westminster curry house last Wednesday to be interviewed on Newsnight, he had the look of a man with an ace up his sleeve. David Cameron’s attack on the government for allowing public funds to go to schools influenced by Islamist extremists was blunted by some slapdash research. Although understandable given their profusion, muddling up ‘pathfinder’ funds was stupid. Far more foolish was the response of ministers, who leapt on the muddle as proof that the central charge was also flawed. As a former special adviser, I understand the need for survival tactics in what Denis Healey called the ‘jungle warfare’ of Cabinet-level politics. Sometimes the best you can hope for is to go to bed in one piece.

But the fundamental charges — that schools in Tottenham and Slough were influenced by Islamism, that their leading lights had links to the ultra-extremist Hizb ut Tahrir, and that concepts such as the Caliphate and Ummah were being taught to young children — are too important to ignore. It is no good for ministers to hide behind Ofsted’s supposed clean bill of health. It is laughable to expect Ofsted to be able to spot the difference between legitimate Islamic influences in a faith school, and the clandestine hand of political Islam. It’s like asking a tax inspector to explain the differences between the Committee for a Workers’ International and the Committee for a Marxist International.

Even people active in politics don’t always recognise the difference between Islam and Islamism, its political groupings, set-texts, core concepts and methods. The government’s official guidebook for ministers outlaws use of the word Islamism, for fear of causing confusion and offence. How can you tackle something that doesn’t have a name?

Ministers should have announced suspension of all funds, and an immediate investigation.

GIF Image

Disagree with half of it, enjoy reading all of it

TRY 3 MONTHS FOR $5
Our magazine articles are for subscribers only. Start your 3-month trial today for just $5 and subscribe to more than one view

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in