A new approach is needed

Left Unity condemns the brutal and criminal terrorist attack on London last night. We send our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those so tragically lost, and our love and solidarity to those injured and in distress.

The Prime Minister says that things cannot continue as they are, that things need to change, and in this she is right. The current approach to defeating terrorism has failed, but the answer is not to ratchet up the current strategy  – with greater repression, increased infringement of democratic rights, less tolerance and less respect for our diverse communities.

It’s time to address the full range of reasons for the increase in terrorist attacks, which must include looking at the UK’s relationship with regimes that fund extremist groups – such as Saudi Arabia. We call on the government to release its report on foreign funding of extremist groups.

Government must also recognise that the so-called ‘war on terror’,  which has driven interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria, has caused destabilisation and devastation abroad, and has increased security problems at home. This has compounded the consequences of centuries of western intervention in other people’s countries.

There is no quick fix to the problems facing the world today, but an escalation of war, intervention, intolerance and curbs on civil and human rights will only make them worse.

It’s time for a new approach to foreign policy, based on international law, human rights and social justice, and equality and respect between states and peoples. Recognising this fact will be a step towards dealing with the fundamental causes of the enormous problems that we face.