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UK News

Government has "no plans" for national register of faith leaders

Last month, the Sunday Telegraph said it had seen a leaked document which suggested priests, rabbis and imams would have to sign up to a list as part of plans to tackle extremism.

The newspaper said the register would be compulsory and "require all faiths to maintain a national register of faith leaders" and that the government will "set out the minimum level of training and checks" that faith leaders will have to go through.

Responding to the article, a spokesperson from the Catholic Church said that it had not been consulted on the proposals and another anonymous source said the proposals would be "firmly resisted".

The issue was raised in a written question by UKIP MP Douglas Carswell.

The member for Clacton asked: "What plans her Department has under its proposal for a national register of faith leaders to (a) vet faith leaders from outside the UK before or after their arrival in the UK, (b) subject faith leaders already in the UK to the same level of vetting as applies to those entering the UK, (c) exclude teachers or priests from any particular religion or denomination from the requirement to register and (d) deal with faith leaders entering the UK or already resident here who are believed to be a threat to national security."

Home Office Minister Karen Bradley responding, stating: "The Government will publish its Counter-Extremism strategy in the near future. There are no plans for a national register of faith leaders."

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