Tories angry over far-right accusation

London: A major row over Islamist extremism erupted on Saturday night after Labour accused David Cameron of being a far-right "propagandist".

Sadiq Khan made the incendiary remark in response to an outspoken speech by the Prime Minister attacking "state multi-culturalism", calling for a stronger British identity and signalling a crackdown on extremist groups.

Khan, the Shadow Justice Secretary, infuriated Downing Street by claiming that Cameron was "writing propaganda for the English Defence League" (EDL). The EDL is an anti-Islamist street protest movement that numbers BNP supporters among its members.

Labour lawmakers then weighed in by accusing Cameron of inflammatory timing for making his speech on the day when the EDL was marching in Luton.

Smear attempt

But Tory chairman Baroness Warsi described Khan's remarks as an attempt to "smear" the Prime Minister as a right-wing extremist. "This is outrageous and irresponsible," she said. "David Cameron has made it clear he wants to unite Britain around our common values, and he has done so in measured language. It is right that we make it clear: extremism and Islam are not the same thing. Khan ran Ed Miliband's leadership campaign. He must apologise and Miliband needs to disown his colleague's baseless accusation."

A spokesman for Khan responded: "The Conservatives are trying to create an artificial row with Sadiq because they realise they have been embarrassed by the timing of Cameron's speech."

"On the day that the EDL marched through Luton and made British Muslims fear to step outside their own homes, it was highly unwise for Cameron to make his speech."

Cameron set out the Government's new hardline approach during a major speech on terrorism in Munich. He condemned the soft left who "lump all Muslims together, compiling a list of grievances and arguing if only governments addressed them ... terrorism would stop."