Watson calls for crackdown on 'roots of terror'
Tom Watson has urged Theresa May to restore armed officer numbers 'as quickly as possible' as he called for a crackdown on foreign states that fund terrorism.
In a passionate speech in the West Midlands, Labour's deputy leader said it was time for all political parties to commit to a policy of 'no more police cuts'.
He also said it was time to cut off the source funding for the 'ideological roots of terrorism' and called for greater powers to monitor people who have been radicalised.
Mr Watson said: "We have to say 'enough is enough' to anyone, any state, any organisation, who is funding or supporting terrorist activity here or anywhere else in the world. And the British people have a right to know who funds terror."
Reflecting on Saturday night's terror attack in London, Mr Watson said there was now 'a new paradigm to Islamist terrorism'.
He said the threat we face is 'of random attacks by lone actors, who are inspired by previous atrocities, who use the crudest, cruellest methods'.
"And if the battle plan of the enemy has changed, then so too must ours, if we are to stand and meet this new threat," he said.
Mr Watson described Britain's emergency services as 'the bravest of the brave' but said there was an 'urgent requirement' for more armed response teams in our policing service.
"Nobody is saying that police cuts caused this attack," he went on. "But the last thing we need at a time of heightened threat is an overstretched police force.
"Cutting armed officers may have been a difficult decision. I think it’s now time for Theresa May to acknowledge that it was the wrong decision."
Mr Watson called for a re-examination of the decision to scrap control orders, which allowed greater monitoring of terror suspects.
"This is not the time for diluted anti-terror laws," he said.
"I think all political parties should commit to no further reductions in police numbers," he said.
"On current Government plans there is a further cut to the policing budget of £850 million.
"You just can't achieve savings like that without cutting thousands more officers. Given the changed paradigm, I'm sure the Prime Minister would be forgiven for making another change to her manifesto in order to guarantee that there will be no further cuts to police numbers."
The parliamentary candidate for West Bromwich East attended Sunday night's One Love concert in Manchester with his children.
He described the show as 'an act of defiance' in the face of terrorism and praised performers, including Ariana Grande and Oasis star Liam Gallagher.
Mr Watson said: "When Liam swaggered on stage, having cancelled all his engagements to sing rock n roll star I couldn't think of a bigger finger you can give to these freaks who want to kill our kids. God bless him."
