I'm honestly baffled by the governments reaction to this sort of thing.
Luton family of 12 'may have fled to Syria'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-33347117

Why are we trying to stop them going ( this is just an example )? Just make it plain that they will never be allowed to return.

Surely its not up to the British government to stop people leaving the country, other than to avoid arrest for breaking our laws?

Couldn't agree more. If you don't want to stay then don't. Just understand that once you walk away there's no going back. For you or your children.

International law doesn't allow you to leave a person "stateless", so we would not be able to prevent them from returning.
We could lock them up etc on their return but we would not be allowed to refuse them re-entry to the country.

Really? I thought the Home Secretary had already ruled out the possibility of known Jihadists returning to the uk?

Yes I was under that impression as well.

+1 to that in principle, but we can't remove their citizenship if they were born here.

I do wonder exactly what would happen if someone pitched up at immigration back from playing in the IS sandpit waving their passport and the guys at the portcullis just stood there saying 'No, [Lifted] off'.

In theory they could hire a lawyer and argue it out in court but I'd imagine that would be a tricky prospect to do airside of the terminal.

It's what most other european nations would do. I guarantee the Italian border guys would just give you a disdainful look and shrug their shoulders.

UK strategy of not attacking Isis in Syria is illogical, says defence secretary | World news | The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/j ... -secretary

Re. bit at the end. Oh yes, one of their main concerns is Britain

How about we have a strong word with the Saudi sickos first before we jump in, eh? And I mean a stronger word than we had with Pakistan...

The govt can, and often do, pronounce policy that is "illegal" - my guess is they know they would be on the losing end of the argument (legally speaking) and so have not tried to enact the policy.

Let them go. We have enough people trying to come in to the country so the more that leave the merrier

Maybe it's time to change the law. Given that we are, as far as I'm aware, still engaged in the "War against terror", drastic measures may be called for.

Its not a matter of changing our law, but international legal treaties for which we are signatories ..

totally agree. let them go
the law needs to be changed on who can enter or re-enter the country

as of illegals my personal option would be shoot on sight ...

Or we do what the Americans do and let everyone have guns. They'll soon start shooting each other *natural selection*

Sadly stupid people are equally likely to shoot smart people as other stupid people.

Michael Fallon is .. well I'd rather not say. if he thinks attacking ISIS directly is a good idea that means it almost certainly isn't.