Extremism report warns against focus on 'ideologies of concern'

Hindu nationalism, misogyny and the "manosphere" have been identified as breeding grounds for extremism in a leaked report commissioned by the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, after last summer's riots.

- Rajeev Syal

Cooper's "rapid analytical sprint" also dismisses claims of "two-tier" policing as a "right-wing extremist narrative".

It argues that the authorities should adopt a "behaviour-based and ideologically agnostic approach" to clamping down on extremism rather than focus resources primarily on "ideologies of concern".

The report, leaked to the right-leaning thinktank Policy Exchange, comes amid deepening scrutiny of the government's approach to extremism. On Sunday, it emerged that counter-terrorism officers did not believe that the Southport killer, Axel Rudakubana, was "in danger of being radicalised".

Cooper commissioned the rapid review in August. For the first time, it identifies Hindu nationalist extremism, and Hindutva, as being of concern following the unrest in Leicester in 2022.

"Hindu nationalist extremism is an extremist ideology that advocates for Hindu supremacy and seeks to transform India into an ethno-religious Hindu state," it says. "Hindutva is a political movement distinct from Hinduism which advocates for the hegemony of Indian Hindus and the establishment of a monolithic Hindu Rastra or state in India."