Far-right detentions up since MP’S death

The number of people in prison for far-right terror offences has increased by nearly five times since the neo-nazi murder of Jo Cox, figures have revealed.

Twenty-eight convicted terrorists or suspects were being held for offences connected to right-wing extremism at the end of June, compared to just six when the Labour MP was killed.

White supremacist Thomas Mair, 55, shouted “Britain first” as he shot the mother-of-two before repeatedly stabbing her in June 2016.

The latest Home Office statistics show an average of six alleged far-right supporters were being held in jails either on remand pending trial or having been convicted from 2013 to her death.

But this increased to ten the year after, before reaching the 28 seen in June. With 178 being held, accused Islamists still make up the majority but their share in prisons has shrunk.

Homeofficefiguresshow 13 per cent of those held on terror offences are said to be right-wing extremists, compared to 4 per cent at the time of the MP’S murder.

A spokesman for campaign group Hope not Hate accused the police and authorities of being “slow to catch on the threat of farright terror”.