UKIP should focus on securing cultural integration and tackling radical Islam after Brexit is achieved to revive the movement and pressure the government into action, party Peer Lord Pearson has said.
“I do think our membership of the EU was the last ‘big one’, and UKIP does still have a job to do there,” Lord Pearson told Breitbart London this week.
Continuing, the former party leader and member of the House of Lords said: “UKIP is useful there, as a pressure on the government and the sensible end of the Conservative Party to make sure we get a proper Brexit.
“But after that, after Brexit, Islam is the next ‘big one’. It’s perfectly obvious it’s the next ‘big one’ and I think UKIP should start, as I’m doing, trying to at least talk about it now.
“At least trying to understand what this thing is, instead of mouthing idiotically all the time that Islam is a religion of peace – which it may be or it may not be.”
On Wednesday Lord Pearson asked a question in the House of Lords about monitoring “hate speech against non-Muslims” in Islamic schools and mosques.
He was shouted down, mocked, and accused of “hate speech”. Speaking after the debate, he told Breitbart London that he and many other Britons were “fed up” with the mockery and labels of “Islamophobia”.
The Peer suggested the “tens of thousands” of supporters of groups like Veterans Against Terrorism and the Football Lads Alliance join UKIP and help influence the direction of the party.
He argued street protest would have little impact on out-of-touch establishment politicians, and that “if you want to do anything about the Islamification of your communities, the only thing you can do is join UKIP”.
He praised the party’s new leader, Gerard Batten, for talking tough on radical Islam, and claimed former leader Nigel Farage is “not very supportive of Gerard’s position of Islam” but insisted the party is “moving on”.
“Nigel, don’t forget, had only one purpose in life: to get and win the [Brexit] referendum. So I think he can be forgiven for being slightly wet about Islam – which he was.”
He also claimed “the protest against the Islamification of their countries is stronger” in many European countries compared to the UK.
That strength of feeling, he argued, had persuaded establishment politicians like French President Emmanuel Macron to speak strongly on reforming Islam and even helped push German Chancellor Angela Merkel into backing a burqa ban.
If large numbers of people backed UKIP, mainstream UK politicians might also begin to take note, he suggested.
The Peer did, however, praise some mainstream UK politicians, such as former Labour “equalities” chief Trevor Phillips, who has acknowledged Islam is “different” and that there are problems with integration which worry ordinary Britons.
Asked whether UKIP should be building links with populist movements in Europe, such as Sebastian Kurz and the Austrian People’s Party, and Geert Wilders and the Dutch Party for Freedom, he replied: “I don’t see why not, personally.”
However, because of the UK’s more “tolerant” culture and history, backing outspoken and controversial activists against radical Islam like Tommy Robinson was complicated.
“Wilders came over for the Tommy Robinson march and he wants to go and see Tommy in prison,” he said.
“Although I get on with Geert terribly well, I’ve told him I can’t really join the ‘Free Tommy’ thing because… I’ve got enough trouble in this place [the House of Lords]… and what’s more, he wants to break the law.
“So I think the law [is important] – however unfairly it’s been applied to Tommy – [and] I can’t really join that campaign.”
Earlier this year, the Peer caused an uproar in parliament and mainstream media when he invited Mr Robbinson into the House of Lords and appeared to show support for his campaigning.
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