Following on from this post, I have now had an opportunity to talk to some of those with an insight into the process by which the Quilliam funding decision was made.
Paul Goodman had pointed the finger at “the role of Charles Farr, Director-General of the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism”
Charles Farr did, in fact, argue for retention of Quilliam funding for quite some time. However, in the end, the decision to make the cut – along with Prevent projects generally – was made by Ministers. [Harry’s Place] Read more
Quilliam: Not Closing But Cut To The Bone .... In many important ways, Quilliam has won the battle. There is now a broader understanding of the work of Islamist political parties active in the United Kingdom.
The opposition to these groups, in the future, will increasingly be led by anti-fascist campaigners like Searchlight, and by progressives within the Labour Party, and in particular around Searchlight. Engage has lost its gig as the secretariat of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Islamophobia. [Harry’s Place] Read more
Quilliam to close .... However, Quilliam is still receiving some Foreign Office funding, which raises the question of why it isn't to be supported by the Home Office when other organisations are. Quilliam's work has a unique perspective on Islamism, since it was gained from inside experience. And its range was highlighted, albeit unwittingly, by the Prime Minister himself yesterday, in the words I quoted above. [ConservativeHome] Read more
