Extremist Islamic preachers could be barred from speaking in universities in Britain, while mosques could be made legally responsible for the views expressed by people they invite. Moreover, the home office is coming under pressure to impose a ban on declared extremists from appearing on television – similar to that imposed on Sinn Féin and the IRA in the 1980s.
So far ministers seem unlikely to opt for that if only because the media landscape has changed so much since then, but they are happy for TV stations to be forced to reflect before issuing an invite.
Former Labour home secretary Jack Straw said action should be taken to block websites carrying information about bomb-making or encouraging terrorist attacks. However, he said the IRA TV ban was "one of the most intolerant and least successful measures" used against it.
New regulations
"It was a great recruiting sergeant for them. The point about living in a democracy is that you have to put up with people expressing views [with which] you really disagree. I think it's important they are allowed to do that," he said.
New regulations could be introduced to take action against Islamic organisations that fall short of posing a sufficient security threat justifying proscription.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats will come under renewed pressure to back down on its opposition to legislation that would force internet companies to keep records of all traffic for a year.
Former Tory leader Michael Howard said the Conservatives should get the legislation passed with Labour support, if the Liberal Democrats would not back down.
Indicating the scale of support for the internet curbs, former Labour home secretary Alan Johnson said home secretary Theresa May, who wants the legislation passed, should be prepared to quit if she does not get her way.
'We must be vigilant'
However, former Lib Dem leader Menzies Campbell said giving the state the right to inspect "every internet site we visit" is a substantial intrusion into people's lives.
Urging ministers to be cautious, the Muslim Council of Britain said lessons from the past indicate that policies and measures taken in haste can exacerbate extremism.
“We must be vigilant and ensure we do not inadvertently give in to the demands of all extremists: making our society less free, divided and suspicious of each other,” it said.
Meanwhile, universities, such as the University of Greenwich in east London, will come under pressure to take more action to curb the presence of extremist preachers on campuses,
Labour MP John Mann said universities which have been "the most tolerant part of society have become the breeding ground for terrorism".
Meanwhile, a 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder – the 10th person to be arrested in the aftermath of the Woolwich killing. Three people arrested earlier were released without charge yesterday.
