Debunked: Why Tory claims of UK extremism ‘cover-up’ fail to add up

Senior Conservatives have accused the UK government of a "cover-up" in the creation of the definition of anti-Muslim hostility, suggesting that extremist Muslim groups likely played a role. However, MEE has previously reported key details about the definition's creation that cast doubt on these allegations. Dominic Grieve, the former Conservative minister who chaired the working group behind the definition, has further undermined the claims.

Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, alleged that "extremists almost certainly influenced" the definition, which Labour adopted earlier this year. Katie Lam, the shadow secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, questioned the need for any "cover-up." Grieve confirmed that the working group met with a number of individuals and representatives of organisations, but noted that no meetings took place with groups or individuals who had expressed views incompatible with a free democracy due to the government's policy of disengagement.

The communities ministry later revealed that unsolicited submissions received by the working group contained severe abuse, including death threats, which prompted its destruction due to legal constraints on retaining such data. The government denied any involvement of extremist groups in a statement to the Telegraph, and Grieve called on Timothy to decide whether he is a serious politician or a "rabble rouser mingling valid points with entirely disreputable and unsustainable ones."