Politicians’ ‘inflammatory language’ part of failure to tackle extremism, UK report finds

Nigel Farage and other MPs were criticised this year for their comments about the police’s handling of the Southport attacks and claims of ‘two-tier’ policing. Photograph: House of Commons

Politicians have been criticised for using “inflammatory language” and peddling conspiracy theories in a report that finds government policies are failing to prevent extremism spreading and taking root in the UK.

The report from Dame Sara Khan, a former counter-extremism commissioner, urges a “radical rethink” of how ministers tackle extremism amid a “chronic risk of democratic decline” due to conspiracy theories, worsening social cohesion and other threats.