'Madness!' Williamson blasts Home Office document branding two-tier policing fears 'extremist': 'Squeeze on free speech!'

Speaking to the People's Channel, the former minister expressed particular concern about the document's attempt to restrict discussion about policing issues.

"This is such a dangerous route to be going down," Williamson told GB News. "Next, they'll be saying we have to have blasphemy laws, next they'll be saying that we need to be cracking down on free speech - this is a very slippery slope."

The document dismisses concerns about grooming gangs as an "alleged" problem that is "frequently exploit[ed]" by the far-right.

It focuses on other forms of "extremism", including misogyny, violence against women and girls, “spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories" and the "online subculture called the manosphere".

Williamson emphasised the need for openness about security threats facing the country, citing recent comments from the former head of MI5 about Islamic terrorism being the primary concern.

"We've got to be open about that. We've got to make sure the right proportion resources are dealing with that," he said.

He pointed to recent policing issues, particularly around Gaza demonstrations and the Jewish community's concerns about two-tier policing.

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"We've got to have a right to be able to criticise all faiths," Williamson stated. "We've got to have that freedom to be able to say where things have gone wrong."

He added: "This just makes it feel as if there's a squeeze on free speech, and we've got to push back on that. The Government needs to reject this outright, which I'm pleased to hear that they've done, but they've got to reject it by their actions as well, not just by saying that this report is wrong."

Echoing his views expressed on social media about the document, Williamson concluded by declaring that the review is "madness".

A Home Office spokesman said: "The counter-extremism Sprint sought to comprehensively assess the challenge facing our country and lay the foundations for a new approach to tackling extremism – so we can stop people being drawn towards hateful ideologies. This includes tackling Islamism and Extreme Right Wing ideologies, which are the most prominent today.

"The findings from the Sprint have not been formally agreed by Ministers and we are considering a wide range of potential next steps arising from that work."

Security Minister Dan Jarvis also confirmed that Ministers have since rejected the advice. He said: "Ministers have rejected this advice. As we have said repeatedly Islamist extremism followed by far-right extremism are the biggest threats we face.

"The Home Secretary set out last week our plans to carry out an end-to-end review of Prevent thresholds on Islamist extremism because we are concerned that referrals are too low. Ideology, particularly Islamist extremism followed by far right extremism, continue to be at the heart of our approach to countering extremism and counter terror.

"But as the horrific Southport attack shows, alongside that we also need more action on those drawn towards mixed ideologies and violent obsessed young people."