Sir Keir Starmer's buffer zone policy has come under fire (Image: Getty)

       Keir Starmer has been accused of planning to “paper over” the threat of Islamist extremism.

       The Labour leader has vowed to introduce 150 metre buffer zones around schools to prevent protesters from targeting pupils and staff.

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       Sir Keir said he was “very concerned” about a school teacher in Batley who has gone into hiding after showing a cartoon of the prophet Mohammed.

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       But Former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said: “Under Keir Starmer there’ll still be extremists - just 150 metres away. Last month he bowed to the mob, lobbying to change the rules of the Commons rather than confront them.

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       “Now he proposes exclusion zones to paper over, not tackle Islamist extremism. Weak and dangerous.”

       Former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has blasted Sir Keir's latest policy (Image: Getty)

       A religious studies teacher at Batley Grammar School was forced into hiding in 2021 after showing a caricature of the Prophet Mohammad during a lesson.

       And a scathing review found that he was "let down" by the public authorities, including the local council and the police.

       Fury over the case mounted after crowds of protesters gathered outside the school gates, raising concerns over threats and intimidation towards staff at the school.

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       Speaking in Dudley to GB News, Starmer said: "I do feel very concerned about this individual. I do think that we need to take extremism very seriously. The strategy needs updating, I think it was last updated nine years ago.

       "The report into what happened in Batley raised some very serious issues, particularly this idea that there shouldn't be those sorts of protests outside of our schools.

       "Insofar as we can, this shouldn't become a party political issue. We've all got an interest in making sure we're tackling this kind of extremism."

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       The Government has said that it will respond to Dame Sara's recommendations - including one to keep protests outside schools to more than 150 metres from the school gates - by the end of July.

       Sir Keir also told GB News "I do think we should do that" when asked if a Labour Government would introduce buffer zones around schools.

       He added: "I think we should be a buffer outside of our schools. School should not be a place for protest."

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