A row has broken out after the Government appointed a human rights activist and author from Bradford to tackle extremism.

The Home Office announced that Sara Khan will lead the newly-created Commission for Countering Extremism.

But Naz Shah, MP for Bradford West, criticised the move and said she has “serious concerns” about the appointment.

Mrs Khan, who grew up in Bradford and still has family in the city, has campaigned for women’s rights and counter extremist causes.

After the appointment was announced, she said: “To those in our country who recognise the harm and threat extremism continues to pose in our society, I am eager to collaborate and engage.”

She vowed to demonstrate “zero tolerance to those who promote hate.” But a number of prominent people and groups have expressed concerns about the appointment, saying her support for the “discredited” Prevent strategy and her support for the Government make her an “ill-advised” choice.

Naz Shah said: “A prerequisite of the role is the trust and confidence of the Muslim community. She does not have it.

“There are serious concerns. I’m lost for what the Home Secretary was thinking.”

Meanwhile, former Conservative chairwoman Baroness Warsi, from Dewsbury, branded the appointment “deeply disturbing”.

She said: “Sara is sadly seen by many as simply a creation of and mouthpiece for the Home Office.”

Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, also condemned the Government’s choice, saying it was a “smack in the face of thousands” who do not view her as part of the solution.

He said: “This Government sadly just doesn’t learn any lessons, appointing someone who is so toxic in the Muslim community frankly makes the commission useless before it starts.”

The Muslim Council of Britain also expressed “grave concerns” about the appointment.

But the Home Office said Mrs Khan was selected following an “open, rigorous and transparent” recruitment process. The Government’s former integration tsar, Dame Louise Casey, praised the appointment and said: “She doesn’t deny there is a problem...I think she has enormous courage, I think she is fiercely independent.”

David Anderson QC, former independent reviewer of terrorism law, added: “The idea that she is a Government stooge is hard to reconcile with her opposition (strongly shared by me) to its ill-advised 2015/16 plans for a Counter-Extremism Bill.”

And a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May insisted Ms Khan is “expertly qualified” to lead the Commission’s work and she will “bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the commission.”

Mrs Khan was approached for a comment.