By Paul Goodman
The Daily Telegraph reports that Charles Farr, Director-General of the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism, pledged support for an attempt by an extremist to enter Britain.
I've written previously about that extremist, Zakir Naik - whose website is commended by the group that carried out the Mumbai massacre.
Farr would have known before meeting Zaik's representatives that the new Government's policy is different from the old one's. It seeks to target the causes of violence, not just the symptoms - that's to say, the extremist ideologies that help drive terrorist acts. This is why Theresa May rightly decided to bar Naik from Britain.
The Telegraph's report is drawn from notes of the meeting made by Naik's representatives. It's possible that they're over-stating their case. But it's well known in Westminster and Whitehall that Farr doesn't always share the Government's view in relation to targeting extremism.
I've met Farr once. He's very bright, extremely well briefed, and a testimony to the quality that the Civil Service can attract. But in the eternal words of Margaret Thatcher: "Advisers advise, and Ministers decide." It's time for Farr to move on rapidly.
