Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Former adviser blames Tory failures for rise in far-right violence

Dame Sara Khan criticises recent governments for ignoring extremism threats

Former adviser blames Tory failures for rise in far-right violence

A FORMER senior adviser on extremism to Tory prime ministers has alleged that the country has been left vulnerable to surges in far-right violence due to Tory government's failure to address rising extremism.

Dame Sara Khan, who served as Rishi Sunak’s independent adviser for social cohesion and resilience until May, and previously as counter-extremism commissioner under Theresa May and Boris Johnson, condemned recent administrations for neglecting clear warnings and exacerbating tensions with divisive rhetoric.


She told the Guardian that government's inaction on legal loopholes allowed far-right extremists to incite violence on social media.

Khan's reports consistently highlighted the increasing threats posed by extremists and the UK's lack of preparedness.

She blamed past governments for scrapping vital counter-extremism strategies and failing to provide alternative solutions, leaving local authorities overwhelmed.

Khan stressed how the language used by some senior politicians emboldened extremists. She urged political leaders to refrain from inflammatory and dehumanising language, particularly regarding asylum seekers and refugees, noting that such rhetoric is often adopted by extremists to undermine social cohesion.

Her observations are supported by evidence of far-right groups spreading disinformation to incite unrest, with recent outbreaks in Oldham, Knowsley, and Barrow. Khan, alongside current Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, previously called for changes to laws on extremism, emphasising the need to address non-violent but hateful rhetoric.

The political instability of recent years, marked by five different prime ministers in seven years, has further weakened government efforts to combat extremism. Khan described dealing with multiple home secretaries with varying priorities, which hindered consistent and effective responses to extremism threats.

She also pointed out the communication failures between the Home Office and local authorities, leading to far-right groups gaining advanced knowledge of asylum hotel locations and organising attacks, such as the recent violence outside a Rotherham hotel housing asylum seekers.

According to Khan, these issues should be addressed urgently to prevent further escalation of violence. She also criticised Tories for failing communities striving to maintain social cohesion.

Meanwhile, a Tory spokesperson emphasised former prime minister Rishi Sunak's commitment to combating extremism and supporting law enforcement efforts to protect the nation.

The spokesperson also stressed recent reforms and support for the Prevent programme as evidence of the government's dedication to countering extremist threats.

More For You

Steel tycoon accused of diverting millions to family while bankrupt

Pramod Mittal

Steel tycoon accused of diverting millions to family while bankrupt

A STEEL magnate who holds the dubious title of Britain's biggest bankrupt has been accused of secretly channelling £63 million to his family instead of settling business debts.

Pramod Mittal, 68, who lives in Mayfair, is being sued at London's High Court by his former company Global Steel Holdings.

Keep ReadingShow less
Akshay Kumar tells King Charles to watch Kesari 2: “You’ll know why the British should say sorry”

Akshay Kumar urges King Charles to watch Kesari 2

Instagram/DharmaProductions

Akshay Kumar tells King Charles to watch Kesari 2: “You’ll know why the British should say sorry”

Akshay Kumar isn’t asking for an apology. He just wants the British to look back and really see what happened. With his upcoming film Kesari Chapter 2 hitting screens on April 18, the actor is urging both the UK government and King Charles to watch the film and confront a dark chapter in colonial history.

The film, directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and based on The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu and Pushpa Palat, tells the story of C. Sankaran Nair, a Malayali lawyer who took legal action against General Dyer and the British government after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. The massacre when British troops opened fire on a peaceful crowd remains one of the most horrific events of British rule in India.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rare sitting in parliament to 'protect' British Steel

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer holds a press conference on nationalising British Steel, at Downing Street on April 11, 2025 in London, Britain. Carl Court/Pool via REUTERS

Rare sitting in parliament to 'protect' British Steel

THE government has recalled parliament this weekend aiming to pass emergency legislation to "take control" of a struggling British Steel plant, prime minister Keir Starmer said.

MPs will join a rare Saturday (12) sitting to discuss the draft bill which would allow the Labour administration to take measures to prevent the plant's imminent closure with thousands of jobs at stake.

Keep ReadingShow less
Man denies basement rape claims in Rochdale child abuse trial

Seven men are currently on trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Man denies basement rape claims in Rochdale child abuse trial

A MAN accused of raping a teenage girl in the cellar of his clothing shop has told a court he never even went down to the basement.

Prosecutors claim two vulnerable girls, from the age of 13, were treated as "sex slaves" by a group of men in Rochdale between 2001 and 2006. The girls were allegedly given drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.

Keep ReadingShow less
fbu-iStock

The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. (Representational image: iStock)

FBU chief raises concern over rise in racist online posts by union members

THE FIRE Brigades Union (FBU) and other trade unions are increasingly concerned about a rise in racist and bigoted online comments by their own members and officials, according to Steve Wright, the FBU’s new general secretary, speaking to the Guardian.

Wright said internal inquiries have revealed dozens of cases involving members using racist slurs or stereotypes, often aimed at asylum seekers.

Keep ReadingShow less