Rishi Sunak’s warning on extremists ‘welcome – albeit belated’

Rishi Sunak’s warning about the forces of extremism was largely welcomed by the UK’s newspapers – although several felt it was overdue.

Several backed the Prime Minister’s call for stronger action by the police during protests and enhanced security measures against potential extremists, but warned he needs to follow his words with actions.

The Times described the speech as a “wake-up call” and “a sobering warning of the fragility of democracy”.

The paper said the biggest significance was the way the speech “threw down the gauntlet to the police”, citing the Metropolitan Police’s declaration it was unable to stop antisemitic messages being beamed onto Big Ben.

“Promising to back the Met commissioner and chief constables confronted with such tactics, Sunak was clearly calling for much more muscular policing of protests,” the paper said, adding the Prime Minister promised to “beef up” the Prevent programme designed to tackle potential terrorists, counter extremism in universities and “foreign preachers of hate”.

“Occasionally, it is necessary to restate the principles on which this country operates,” it continued.