Theresa May has called on internet companies to do more to tackle the spread of extremist material in the wake of the London Bridge terror attack as a former cabinet minister said online giants must “face up to their responsibilities”.

The Prime Minister said the UK “cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are” as she set out tough measures to tackle terrorism in response to the attack.

She said that there must now be greater regulation of the internet and that existing online “safe spaces” that allow terrorism to “breed” must be eradicated.

Iain Duncan Smith, the former work and pensions secretary, backed the Prime Minister and suggested that online companies had “avoided” such a clampdown for “too long”.