Plans to ban hate preachers ‘would make radicalisation worse', say Lib Dems

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps admitted there was a 'difference of opinion' as the Government tries to prevent the radicalisation of young people

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps admitted there was a “difference of opinion” over the guidance to be issued as the Government tries to prevent the radicalisation of young people (Getty)

Conservative plans to ban extremist preachers from university campuses “would make radicalisation worse” according to their Liberal Democrat coalition partners.

New laws place a duty on institutions to prevent students being drawn into terrorism but the governing parties are split over how it should be implemented in official guidance to educational leaders.

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps admitted there was a “difference of opinion” over the guidance to be issued as the Government tries to prevent the radicalisation of young people.

“We don’t think that sort of preaching should happen in our universities,” he told Sky News, adding that the Business Secretary Vince Cable, whose department deals with higher education, did not agree with their plans.

Mr Cable’s colleague Ed Davey said: “What the Tories are asking for would make radicalisation worse. It would push these people into a more secret world which we know exists and therefore they couldn’t be challenged.”