Anti-racism campaign Hope Not Hate challenged suggestions by an anonymous Home Office adviser yesterday  that far-right groups were gaining ground in Britain.

Described as an “expert on right-wing extremism,” the adviser warned BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the government was placing an emphasis on the “global jihadist agenda” but ignoring the growth of the far right at home.

The Today report suggested that in particular the actions of Islamic State (Isis) and the 

Ongoing Rotherham abuse scandal were fuelling the far right.

But Hope Not Hate’s Nick Lowles disputed the claim, arguing that, far from its numbers being swelled, the far right was in disarray.

“Isis and Rotherham provide a narrative for the far right to exploit but the truth is, contrary to what the government adviser says, it is not currently in a position to fully take advantage,” he said.

“Yes, we must always be vigilant against far-right activity but we should keep a sense of perspective.”

Mr Lowles said that the departure of senior member Stephen Lennon from the English Defence League (EDL) and the loss of former British National Party leader Nick Griffin’s European Parliament seat were indicative of the far right’s true state of affairs.

He also pointed to significantly reduced numbers at recent EDL marches, such as the one in Rotherham last weekend, which saw around 600 members take part — far fewer than a few years ago.

“A lot of the emphasis is put on the global jihadist agenda, which is fine, and it needs to be,” the adviser said.

“I really feel that this agenda, the repercussions of some of that in terms of the far right can’t be ignored.”

But Mr Lowles riposted: “More of a concern is how Isis and grooming cases play into a more general anti-Muslim narrative.”