Violent, wicked, right-wing extremist groups are infiltrating mainstream politics and generating credibility, the Metropolitan Police's former head of counter terrorism has warned.

Sir Mark Rowley, who stepped down from his role as the Met's Assistant Commissioner and the UK’s national lead for counter terrorism policing this year, said that Neo-Nazi, white supremacist groups are repackaging their intolerances and attaching them to mainstream political debate.

He also sad that there is a real danger that these groups will have more scope to get stronger, if given platforms.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Mr Rowley said: "For the first time since the second world war, we have a domestic prescribed terrorist group. It's right-wing, it's Neo-Nazi, it's proudly white supremacist, portraying a violent and wicked ideology.

"If we sleepwalk into it, then there is a real danger we give them more scope to get stronger.