LONDON (AA) - Britain's home secretary has unveiled a host of new measures aimed at tackling what the government describes as extremism ahead of the country’s general election in May.
In a speech Monday, Theresa May said that the Home Office for the first time would take "responsibility within government for developing a completely new counter-extremism strategy."
As part of the new U.K. government plan, an independent figure to investigate the application of Sharia law in England and Wales will be appointed.
Funding for translation services will be reduced while spending on English-language training will be boosted.
The Conservative Party politician also said there would be a "positive" campaign to promote "British values."
"The foundation stone of our new strategy is the proud promotion of British values... They are the values that unite us. And the reality of those values is far superior to anything the extremists have to offer anybody," May said.
May also said that Islam is compatible with British values "while Islamist extremism is not -- and we must be uncompromising in our response to it."
Among the "counter-extremism" proposals are plans to review unregulated schools, introduce closure orders for premises occupied by extremists and refusing asylum to "extremists who pose a threat to national security."
Foreign "religious workers in pastoral roles" will be required to speak English.
May said "they [extremists] utterly reject British and Western values, including democracy, the rule of law, and equality between citizens, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion or sexuality."
