Hizb ut-Tahrir

Our last three Prime Ministers have all wanted to ban the Islamist Group Hizb-ut-Tahrir, but all have failed to do so. Why?

The reason seems to be that current legislation allows the banning of groups that act violently and those that foment violence. Hizb-ut-Tahrir, it seems just have unpleasant views and you can't be banned for those.

This is probably a good thing; otherwise we would be ruled by the thought police. Lord Carlile, the previous counter-terrorism reviewer, said yesterday, "I don't think anything is going to happen … I think the general view is that Hizb ut-Tahrir are best dealt with in public debate rather than by proscription."

They seem to be being defeated in public debate. They had their annual conference in Tower Hamlets recently and the turnout was 200 people, down from several thousand four years ago. This is a group that is rushing towards extinction