Last month, Michael Gove, the Communities Secretary, announced plans to name and shame Muslim groups in the UK who will be barred from government support or contacts because of their alleged role in inciting hatred and undermining democracy.
Ministers already have powers to block people trying to enter the UK who are “non-conducive to the public good” but these are generally used to bar people who are known to threaten national security.
One of the few cases where hate preachers have been barred from entry to the UK was Zakir Naik, an Indian preacher, who was denied a visa by Theresa May, then the home secretary.
Ministers believe they can make greater use of the powers to include individuals preaching racism, incitement, or using intimidation or violence to undermine the democratic process.
Embassies will be expected to gather information on extremists, while the Government will also work in communities to build up a picture of prominent overseas extremists who intend to travel to the UK.
Hate preachers and extremists included on the list will be automatically referred to the Home Office so that any visa they have will be cancelled or refused if they seek to enter the UK.
Involved in pro-Palestinian protests
James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, also has powers to exclude an individual from the UK if their presence would be not conducive to the public good.
A number of foreign extremists involved in the pro-Palestinian protests following the Israel-Hamas conflict have had their visas revoked and have been excluded to prevent them returning to the UK.
Mr Simcox highlighted how foreign extremists had contributed to an increasing focus by Muslim activists on using accusations of blasphemy to silence critics of Islam.
He said in a speech at the Royal United Services Institute: “To take an example from this summer, a cleric from Bangladesh called Enayetullah Abbasi came on a speaking tour of this country. Abbasi is open in his belief that there is a need to behead anyone who criticises Mohammed.
“Now I expect the Government to do more to bar such speakers from travelling to this country. However, the main problem here is not the Home Office.
“It is not a one-off. Again and again, clerics from Pakistan, in particular, who in their own country openly praise those who carry out acts of violence in defence of Mohammed’s honour, then end up getting hosted by institutions in the UK.”