Pastor Terry Jones

Should the Home Secretary ban Pastor Terry Jones, the leader of a church numbering 12 members in all, from visiting this country and speaking to members of the English Defence League? Terry Jones is the person who was going to burn the Koran on the anniversary this year of the 9/11 atrocity but who was eventually persuaded not to do so. By backing down, albeit under considerable pressure, it shows that he is not a totally unreasonable person. The fact that he backed down is not the point though and neither is his threat to burn the Koran. On what basis should the Home Secretary refuse him entry to attend and speak at a rally organised by the English Defence League?  Only if the speech contravenes our laws. In the name of free speech etc we have allowed extremist Muslim preachers into the country and done nothing when they have spouted inflammatory nonsense so why not Mr Jones, who seems a bit of a joke ayway? There were too many occasions when the Labour government refused entry to persons with awkward views for no good reason other than prejudice and their need for electoral reasons to appease extremist Muslim opinion. This must stop and so we must allow those with views we may find abhorrent to come here and make speeches even to frightening organisations like the English Defence League. It is most essential that we demonstrate that this government respects freedom of speech and all that that means and if necessary protects Mr Jones and the English Defence League from being attacked by that equally frightening organisation, the Anti Nazi League.