Denis MacShane, who was in the post until May, has described how his attempts to push for a more hardline approach were rebuffed because of concerns that Muslims would be offended. Only after the recent London attacks have ministers, Muslim groups and officials “engaged in a higher gear”.

“There wasn’t that sense of grip, of pulling together of departments,” said MacShane, who was directly involved in Britain’s policy response to the September 11 attacks. “Whitehall only moves if it is told in no uncertain terms, principally by the PM, ‘This is my priority, it is your priority’. You need very strong engagement by Downing Street.”

He added: “My generation of Labour MPs don’t want to indulge in anything that smacks of Muslim typecasting or hostility. And as we tried very hard not to be like Norman Tebbit or the more ugly tabloids, it’s fair to say we failed to work out an adequate political response to Islamist politics in the UK.”

Since the London attacks, Blair and Charles Clarke, the home secretary, have rushed to develop a range of policies, including measures against radical preachers and powers to deport extremists.

MacShane believes the clampdown is overdue. And he also believes that a more sophisticated defence and explanation of British foreign policy is required: “I held meetings with Muslim leaders and I was very firm. I said: if you want us to bomb Belgrade to stop (Slobodan) Milosevic killing Muslims, it is also legitimate to bomb Afghanistan to stop the Taliban killing Muslims. Or Baghdad to stop Saddam (Hussein) killing Muslims.”

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• The bright side of this winter rain
• Story behind the picture: Snow Leopard, 2008
• Times Charity Appeal: The Place2Be