War on Right-wing racism launched in ‘vulnerable’ areas

Ministers today launched a £12 million scheme to combat the spread of Right-wing extremism. The move comes amid fears that the recession could create rising social tensions.

Under the plans, each of more than 100 areas across the country judged to be vulnerable to extremism will be given extra help to boost job opportunities, education and living conditions available to residents.

Special community forums will be set up to allow local people to air grievances, while further measures will aim to ensure that council leaders and other officials "speak out" more effectively for those they represent.

The unprecedented initiative - which in London will initially be implemented in parts of Barking and Dagenham, Bexley and Bromley - has been prompted by concern within the Government about a potential spread of Right-wing extremism caused by increasing unemployment, immigration and deprivation in some communities.

Such fears have been heightened by the success of the BNP in this year's European elections, and the party leader Nick Griffin's appearance on BBC1's Question Time next week, as well as the recent spate of violent demonstrations involving the newly formed English Defence League.

Communities Secretary John Denham said that to prevent such groups from exploiting discontent within deprived areas, ministers wanted to ensure that the key concerns of people living there were not ignored.

These, he said, included the decline in traditional jobs in some white working-class areas, change and competition for jobs caused by migration, and problems with anti-social behaviour.He added that the Government would seek to address such problems by improving residents' access to jobs, housing, education, health and other key services, but stressed that the new plans for "giving people a voice" and improving local leadership were essential if the fight against extremism was to succeed.

"None of this will work unless on the doorstep, in pubs and community centres local people know that someone is speaking up for them and fighting their corner," Mr Denham added.

"They need to know that the jobs being created are jobs they can get, the houses being built are homes they can live in, and that the library, the school and the hospitals are being built for them, their families and their community."