How can social media firms give convicted Islamist terror-backer Anjem Choudary a platform to preach hate?

Window to evil

AS more details emerge about the fanatic alleged to have killed Tory MP Sir David Amess, the trail of blood now seems to lead back — yet again — to the poisonous tentacles of hate preacher Anjem Choudary.

Pals of murder suspect Ali Harbi Ali claim he was brainwashed by watching YouTube videos of the Islamist fanatic.

How can it be that a convicted terror-backer is allowed a platform by household name social media firms to spread his bile into any household in the land?

If Choudary’s rants can entice even a supposed medical student, many more will be at risk of falling under his sway.

The stabbing of Sir David at a constituency surgery on Friday also raises troubling questions about the Government’s Prevent counter-terror strategy.

Ali slipping through the net is the latest in a string of controversies for the programme, and it is now surely time for its practices to be re-examined.

More heartening has been our MPs’ fortitude in response to their colleague’s senseless murder, an event that could easily have triggered kneejerk calls to restrict interactions with local voters.

Their determination not to surrender even the day-to-day minutiae of our democracy to terrorism deserves praise, as does the stoicism of Sir David’s family.

But being an MP in 21st-century Britain shouldn’t mean fearing for your life or that of your loved ones — it’s way past time social media giants cleaned the sewer.

Corking opener

AS a teaser for next week’s Budget, the suggestion that Rishi Sunak will cut taxes on English sparkling wine and certain beers gives us a warm glow.

By combining a Brexit dividend with simplifying an alcohol tax system you’d have to be half-cut to make sense of, the Chancellor is on to a winner.

Only time will tell if this indicates a bold, enterprising Budget, or just a sop to soften us up for hikes elsewhere.

With bills soaring and a National Insurance rise next year already set to hit voters, the latter would be counterproductive even for a Treasury battling to claw back its pandemic losses.

Don’t burst our bubbles, Rishi — the country sorely needs a vintage Budget.

Earth win & flyer

LAST night’s Earthshot ceremony got Prince William’s awards for solutions to protect the planet off to a flying start.

We hope the £1million prizes will ensure the five winners’ ideas bear fruit.

No wonder Prince Charles, himself a strident green campaigner for decades, revealed before the ceremony how “very proud” he was of his eldest son for fostering innovative endeavours.

With the Queen, 95, and Prince George, eight, also passionate supporters of the environment, it is a rare common cause uniting four generations of royals.