Calls are mounting for the government to sack a peer appointed to review the Prevent counter-extremism programme.

Critics of the scheme had feared a “whitewash” before Lord Carlile was appointed in the post of independent reviewer.

The barrister has sat on the government’s Prevent oversight board and suggested he was “biased towards it”.

This week, The Independent reported comments in which he called the review “completely unnecessary” and suggested it was based on a “complete lack of evidence”.

Wes Streeting, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims, called Lord Carlile’s appointment a “poorly judged decision”.

“The review of Prevent should be an opportunity to look afresh at whether the government’s current approach to countering extremism is working in an evidence-based way,” the Labour MP told The Independent.

UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Show all 14 1 /14 UK terror plots that were foiled by security services UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Oxford Street terror plot Lewis Ludlow was jailed for life in March 2019 for planning a 'spectacular multi-victim attack' on Oxford Street in London. He pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey last year to plotting an attack in the UK and funding Isis abroad EPA UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Rosie Cooper MP plot Jack Renshaw admitted plotting to kill his local Labour MP with a machete in June 2018. Renshaw bought a 19in machete intending to use it to kill Rosie Cooper, MP for West Lancashire. His plan was foiled by whistleblower Robbie Mullen, who heard of the plot in a meeting of alleged and convicted National Action members in the Friar Penketh pub in Warrington Hope Not Hate UK terror plots that were foiled by security services 'Poppy terror plot' Nadir Ali Sayed, his cousin Yousaf Shah Syed, and Haseeb Hamayoon, were charged with terrorism offences over an alleged plot to behead a member of public. The trio were arrested in London and High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire on 6 November - three days before Remembrance Sunday in 2014 PA UK terror plots that were foiled by security services National Action arrests Following the arrest of six men in 2018 on suspicion that they were members of the banned far-right terror group National Action, two were jailed. Christopher Lythgoe was found to be leader of the banned group and jailed for eight years, while Matthew Hankinson was jailed for six years. While it was found that Lythgoe did not encourage Jack Renshaw's plot to kill a Labour MP, the judge noted that he "did nothing to stop or discourage" the attack PA UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Shane Fletcher A self-described 'loner', Fletcher planned to kill members of the public at a football match in his home town of Workington. He had been referred to the government's Prevent programme nine moths prior to his arrest after stating that he dreamed about "shooting up a mosque" PA UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Heathrow airport arrests A 19-year-old from Coventry man was arrested at London's Heathrow airport on suspicion of preparing for acts of terrorism in November 2014 UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Extradition of Abu Hamza Radical muslim cleric Abu Hamza was extradited to the US in 2014 after having been jailed in the UK for 7 years for 11 offences under the Terrorism Act Getty UK terror plots that were foiled by security services South East Counter Terrorism Unit arrests Six people were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after a series of dawn raids in the south of England in October 2014. Three men and three women were detained separately in two properties in Portsmouth, one in Farnborough and one in Greenwich following an operation by the South East Counter Terrorism Unit. Counter-terror officers said they had disrupted what was believed to be the early stages of what could have turned into a “significant plot” PA UK terror plots that were foiled by security services October 2014 arrests Three men were arrested in central London on 13 October as part of an investigation into Islamist-related terrorism. The arrests come nearly a week after five men were arrested in dawn raids that Whitehall officials said “may have foiled the early stages” of a plan to attack the UK Peter Macdiarmid/Getty UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Anjem Choudary arrest Anjem Choudary, the radical activist and co-founder of the banned al-Muhajiroun group, was arrested in September 2014 as efforts intensify to disrupt the ideological backers of young British Muslims travelling to fight in foreign conflicts. Mr Choudary was among nine men held on suspicion of supporting a banned terrorist group and encouraging terrorism. The arrests came shortly after Mr Choudary fired off a series of angry tweets after David Cameron called on MPs to back air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria Oli Scarff/Getty UK terror plots that were foiled by security services North West Counter Terrorism Unit funds seizing Police seize £250,000 of cash intended to fund Isis at Manchester Airport and north-west ports. Using powers under the Terrorism Act, the money was confiscated by officers from the North West Counter Terrorism Unit in Ocotber 2014 Getty UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Tarik Hassane arrest A medical student who was offered a place at a London university has been named among four men who are being questioned by counter-terror police after a series of raids across the capital. Tarik Hassane, 21, is believed to have been Tasered when he was arrested on suspicion of being involved in a "significant" Islamist terror plot on 7 October 2015 UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Abu Qatada removed from UK Radical preacher Abu Qatada will not be returning to the UK after being cleared of terror charges in Jordan in 2013 Reuters UK terror plots that were foiled by security services Haider Ahmed knife plot Teenage Isis supporter Haider Ahmed purchased a 15ins hunting knife and threatened to launch a stabbing attack on the Tube. Prosecutors said he may alternatively have been planning to rob someone with the weapon to fund his travel to fight for Isis in Syria He was jailed for preparing an act of terrorism in June 2019 Counter Terrorism Policing South East

“It is clear that he has predetermined conclusions that make his appointment entirely inappropriate.”

Labour’s shadow security minister, Nick Thomas-Symonds, has written to the government calling for Lord Carlile’s position to be reconsidered, but the Home Office said he brings a “wealth of experience and skills” to the role.

Appearing at a summit in Canada in May, Lord Carlile said: “I think the appointment of a Prevent reviewer was completely unnecessary, based on fictitious or a complete lack of evidence, and only agreed to because the government doesn’t have a majority in the House of Commons.”

Lord Carlile made the comments before being appointed as the independent reviewer of Prevent earlier this month, when the security minister praised his “independence and rigour”.

The Muslim Council of Britain said the review would “only have any meaningful impact if it is credible”.

“Aside from the deficiencies in the process by which he was appointed, Lord Carlile’s previous views and comments about the Prevent programme make him whole and completely unsuitable for the role,” a spokesperson said.

“We call on the government to rectify their mistaken and damaging appointment now, rather than undertake a process of review that will not in any way meet its desired aims.”

The Home Office announced the review in January after years of dismissing human rights concerns and resisting persistent calls to overhaul Prevent.

Ministers told parliament the post of independent reviewer was not advertised publicly because of time pressures, and said the home secretary would choose a suitable candidate.

Mother talks to Sky News about her concerns over Government's counter-terror Prevent scheme

During a debate in the House of Lords in December, Lord Carlile said Prevent was “achieving a great deal”, adding: “If we abandoned Prevent, then terrorist acts which we have been able to avoid as a result of that policy would happen.

“I admit I played a part in it, so I may be somewhat biased towards it.”

The Runnymede Trust race-equality think tank said his appointment, and the process used, had “undermined the integrity and credibility of this review”.

“The main reason the government have appointed a reviewer at all is because there has been many concerns raised by human rights, faith and race-equality organisations about the detrimental impact of Prevent on Muslim communities, as well as the extent to which Prevent is evidence based, open and transparent,” said deputy director Dr Zubaida Haque.

“Together with many other third-sector organisations, the Runnymede Trust strongly urges the government to rethink Lord Carlile’s appointment as it appears that he is neither impartial nor independent.”

Lord Carlile, said his experience as the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation from 2001 to 2011 showed “a strong track record of asserting and sustaining my independence of government in assessing the effectiveness of legislation”.

“I look forward in my new role to seeing Prevent work in action and hearing views from supporters, critics and everyone in between to see the evidence of what is and isn’t working,” he said in a quote released by the Home Office. “The review will be strongly evidence based.”

Some campaign groups have accused Prevent of targeting Muslims and setting the barrier for intervention too low, but proponents cite a 36 per cent rise in suspected far-right extremists referred as proof it does not single out one ideology.

Official statistics show that only 3 per cent of people referred to Prevent are flagged by friends and family and 4 per cent by their local community, prompting warnings that the scheme’s effectiveness was being undermined by a lack of trust.

In 2017-18, more than 7,300 referrals were made but 42 per cent resulted in no action being taken.

The Home Office declined to say whether it was considering sacking Lord Carlile, who was made a CBE in 2012 for services to national security.

Officials said there was no requirement for the appointment to follow the Cabinet Office code, but its “general principles” had been observed.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Lord Carlile brings a wealth of experience and skills to this role. The fact that he has already given serious thought to Prevent will be an asset as he conducts this review.

“In line with other reviews of this type, the appointment is at the discretion of the home secretary and has been considered carefully.”