Why Boris Johnson Should Publicly Sack Policy Exchange

The Bendy Jihad is a joke policy – you can’t take it seriously even though you know it’s the product of ghastly propagandists you wouldn’t want to be seen dead in a ditch with.  When Policy Exchange turn their black arts to grown-up issues it’s a much more serious matter.  From Politics Home via Lib Dem Voice:

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has attacked thinktank Policy Exchange over its call to boycott the upcoming Global Peace and Unity event in London.

The thinktank had circulated a dossier questioning apparent extremist background of several of the events speakers. However Mr Clegg, who is due to speak at the event accused the thinktank’s director of “bizarre and underhand behaviour”, and questioned the validity of the evidence.

I do have to say it’s nice to see Mr. Clegg growing a pair here, it’s time someone in the public eye called PX out for the bastards they are – they’re getting increasingly cocky and arrogant since Boris became Mayor, and increasingly blatant in their attempts to stifle, channel and control debate.  Here’s ‘Nasty’ Nick coming out swinging in fine style, in a letter to new PX Director Neil O’Brien:

The Policy Exchange briefing I have seen seeks to raise alarm over a number of the speakers planning to attend the conference. The accuracy of the allegations is variable, with a notable lack of evidence to support many of the claims.

In particular I was appalled to see ‘evidence’ quoted from the Society for American National Existence, an organisation which seeks to make the practice of Islam illegal, punishable by 20 years in prison. I need hardly point out how illogical it is to attempt to criticise one set of extreme views by citing another.

All good stuff.  However, it’s time for Boris to come clean.  On the one hand he gets credit for pissing off the BNP over learning Arabic and reading the Koran, but on the more serious point of who he listens to, the equally vile PX get a free pass to the Mayor’s office.  It’s time to get off the fence – stop the soothing words and show us some robust action.  Throw these bums out, Boris.  You’ll be better off without them.  I’ll leave the last words to ‘Killer’ Clegg, with a hearty ‘hear hear’:

I therefore urge you to withdraw this briefing and to call off any plans to circulate it further. I also suggest that if you want to make a positive contribution to this debate that you step out of the shadows and make yourself heard.