Kelly defends anti-extremism plan

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The defence comes amid claims that it is a superficial rehash of existing policy.

Ms Kelly said the six-point action plan was about forging a new coalition against violent radicals. It marked a shift in focus from the Whitehall security response to empowering local communities to take "a brave stand", she added.

But Labour's Lord Nazir Ahmed, Britain's first Muslim peer, said the proposals targeted "superficial things" and were a "rehash" of existing policy.

The package of measures includes strengthening leadership of mosques, improving access for women, and extending citizenship education into private schools and madrassas.

Ms Kelly told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "(The) action plan is a really significant response to what is a long-term and extremely serious threat that we're facing as a society. We've concentrated so far, rightly, on the security response, and at all points we have to keep that under review and see whether we need further powers. What I don't think we've really done sufficiently to date is win hearts and minds of those in Muslim communities. We've tried to win this battle from Whitehall."

Ms Kelly added: "It's about empowering and enabling those in Muslim communities, the silent majority who are law-abiding and decent people, to stand up and take a brave stand against extremists, to isolate the extremists, and to work with us in doing so."

But Lord Ahmed said it targeted "superficial things" and was merely a "rehash" of existing policy. "The real issue is to find out the reasons behind extremism and radicalisation," he said.

Referring to community leaders such as imams, Lord Ahmed said: "Some of those people who Ruth Kelly is boasting are supporting her, they are the very people whose membership does not speak English, do not want to learn English and they are the ones who are not engaged with young people." And he warned: "I am not so sure this is going to work."

He also pointed out that only £1 million of the £6 million pledged for tackling grassroots extremism was new money, as £5 million had already been announced.