Lord Carlile QC has been stood down by the government as independent reviewer of the Prevent programme following a legal challenge over his appointment.
In a letter to Rights Watch UK, which launched the legal action against the Home Office earlier this year, the government’s legal advisers said they had “full confidence” in his work but confirmed his role “has been concluded”.
Terms of reference for the review of Prevent are also being reconsidered by the Home Office, the letter stated.
The decision to reassess the review of the controversial Preent programme is a victory for Rights Watch UK. It objected to Lord Carlile because in the past he has declared his strong support for the programme, which is aimed at combating radicalisation leading to terrorism. It has become a toxic brand for many within Muslim communities, with some viewing it as a state tool for spying on them. [The Guardian] Read more
