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.
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)