Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has demanded the immediate scrapping of government guidance that categorises concerns about migration as potential terrorist ideology.
Speaking on GB News's Camilla Tominey Show, Philp condemned the Prevent programme's classification as "deeply offensive and ridiculous and wrong".
He told The Peoples Channel: “It is deeply offensive and ridiculous and wrong to suggest that raising concerns about mass migration is somehow extremist.
“It is completely reasonable to have a debate about immigration levels and indeed, to make the case, that the numbers need to be a lot, lot, much, much, dramatically lower than they have been.
Chris Philp called for the guidance to be scrapped
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"It's equally reasonable to raise concerns about integration as well. That guidance should be immediately scrapped.”
The controversy centres around official training documents from the government's anti-extremism programme Prevent, which identify "cultural nationalism" as a belief warranting concern.
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According to the materials, this includes the view that "Western culture is under threat from mass migration and lack of integration by certain ethnic or cultural groups".
The guidance explicitly categorises such concerns as a subcategory of extreme right-wing terrorist ideology requiring deradicalisation.
The classification has provoked widespread criticism from free speech advocates who argue that mainstream political views are being treated as ideologically suspect.
The Home Office has defended the programme, stating: "Prevent is not about restricting debate or free speech, but preventing those susceptible to radicalisation."
The guidance emerged as 1,194 illegal migrants arrived on small boats last Saturday alone
GETTYThe Free Speech Union has formally intervened, with its director Toby Young writing directly to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper about the implications of the guidance.
In his letter, Young warned: "Now that 'cultural nationalism' has been classified as a subcategory of extreme right-wing terrorist ideology, even mainstream, right-of-centre beliefs risk being treated as ideologically suspect, despite falling well within the bounds of lawful expression."
The organisation argues that the classification threatens legitimate political discourse by potentially criminalising widely-held views about immigration policy.
WATCH: Nana Akua shares views on migration fears being called extreme
The migration debate occurs against a backdrop of continuing Channel crossings, with 1,194 illegal migrants arriving on small boats last Saturday.
Labour backbencher Jo White, leader of the party's Red Wall faction, suggested Sir Keir Starmer should consider reforming European Convention on Human Rights laws.
White specifically cited Article Eight after an Albanian criminal was permitted to remain in Britain because his son reportedly disliked chicken nuggets abroad.
"We need to be looking at things like ECHR article eight," White stated.
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