These neo-conservatives are members of the Policy Exchange think tank and the Henry Jackson Society but they also have a reach far beyond into the media, industry and government.
Their view is one that is best summarised as advocating a pro-active approach to spread their extreme interpretation of 'liberal democracy' in the world.
The Henry Jackson Society is linked to many influential American neo-conservatives and its members have been enthusiastic supporters of U.S. President Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq. Many of the key figures in these circles are linked to the current conservative party leadership but they are also as likely to be labour and liberal party members.
Policy Exchange issued a controversial report, titled 'The Hijacking of British Islam'. The author is Dr. Denis MacEoin, who is a novelist and former lecturer in Islamic studies. He sometimes writes under the pseudonyms Daniel Easterman and Jonathan Aycliffe. Under the pseudonym Easterman, he wrote 'The Name of the Beast' published by HarperCollins and described as a 'millenial occult horror of the emergence of the Antichrist in modern Egypt.' In recent years it is said that he has become active in pro-Israel advocacy (hasbara).
Policy Exchange, are often described as a 'centre-right' think tank by fellow sympathisers. However most objective observers would describe them as far-right neo conservatives, and certainly they contain people who are viewed as some of the most anti-muslim and anti-islam personalities in the uk.
Their current chairman is Charles Moore, a leading conservative commentator who described the muslim woman's veil as "a hostile statement about the society in which the wearer lives".
Their former director was Michael Gove, a self-confessed neo-conservative once described as a "venomous media voice who thinks no Muslim is worth talking to" - which he of course denies. He is the author of Celsius 7/7, which has been described as ‘pernicious' and 'paranoid'. In it, he plays on the fears of the British public, trying to focus on the political aspects of Islam as the causes for violence in the world. Gove is widely believed to be one of the leading ideologues behind Cameron's Conservative party and its policies.
Along with these two are Nicholas Boles MP, another of Cameron's lieutenants, and Dean Godson, the director of research. Mr Godson has written articles such as 'Do we have to treat Muslims as Muslims?' and 'You'll never guess who's to blame for 7/7' in which he tries to counter the idea that either Tariq Ramadhan or the MCB are moderates. He suggests that there is an 'Arabising' of Britain's Muslim community.
Many of these people are linked to the Henry Jackson Society, described by some as a neo-conservative think tank - a label they deny - who are dedicated to the spread of their interpretation of free market capitalism and liberal democracy across the entire planet. Whilst many view this as totalitarian and supremacist, their ranks include prominent neo-conservative supporters, and ‘liberal interventionists'.
It has many high-profile signatories to its statement of principles, Michael Gove, Edward Vaizey, David Willetts, Denis MacShane, Fabian Hamilton, Gisela Stuart, former MPs David Trimble, Jackie Lawrence, as well as Sir Richard Dearlove - former head of the British Secret Intelligence Service - and Irwin Stelzer, Rupert Murdoch's friend. Notable patrons include Richard Perle and William Kristol, two of the leading lights in the American neo-conservative movement, James Woolsey, former Director of the CIA and Tsakhiagiyn Elbegdorj, former Prime Minister of Mongolia.
These two organisations have echoes of the Project for the New American Century (PNAC), a US think tank that was extremely well co-ordinated and unified in purpose, which then in turn influenced the Republican leadership, in particular President George W. Bush. It was PNAC that led the call for the war in Iraq.
The Policy Exchange because of its political and media links appears to be more media savvy than most think tanks. It now has an impressive track record of co-ordinating its controvertial ‘research' with political events and policy timetable. This report emerged in the week that Hazel Blears will address the governments position on ‘extremism'. A previous report on Islam and Muslims was released in the week Cameron set out his views on the subject about a year ago. A report commissioned by them from Martin Bright attacked the government's position on engagement with the MCB and promoted the Sufi Muslim Council (SMC) only days before the official launch of the SMC.
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