Universities failing to fight extremism, says watchdog

The government's counterterrorism watchdog believes Britain's universities are reluctant to deal with radicalisation on campus and says a report by vice-chancellors that rejects demands to ban controversial speakers is "weak".

Lord Carlile, who is in charge of overseeing the government's counterterrorism strategy, Prevent, urges ministers to develop a "new narrative" for combating extremism, supporting moderate Muslim theologians against al-Qaida. "You have to meet like with like," he says.

He is scathing about the conclusion reached by Universities UK, representing 133 universities – and says their report contains a "glaring omission". He told the Guardian: "[There] is a total failure to deal with how to identify and handle individuals who might be suspected of radicalising or being radicalised whilst within the university." Read more