Anti-Islam US pastor is banned from Britain

Terry Jones, the controversial American preacher who wanted to burn the Koran in public, has been banned from entering Britain.

The Home Secretary, Theresa May, banned Mr Jones after he accepted an invitation to address England is Ours, a fringe anti-Islamic group with links to the British National Party.

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "The Government opposes extremism in all its forms which is why we have excluded Pastor Terry Jones from the UK. Numerous comments made by Pastor Jones are evidence of his unacceptable behaviour."

The preacher had hoped to address demonstrations in the UK against Islam and said refusing him entry was a blow against free speech.

n Baroness Warsi, the minister without portfolio, will tell an audience at the University of Leicester today that prejudice against Islam is so common in the UK that it is considered normal and acceptable. She criticises talk of "moderate Mulsims" as patronising and likely to fuel intolerance.