Thurrock councillors voted unanimously against giving former extremists priority on housing waiting lists.

This comes after a Daily Mail article claimed that the UK government had plans to re-integrate former extremists, in particular jihadists, by offering them fast-track access to social housing as part of a counter-terrorism strategy.

Although a motion has not been drawn up by the UK government regarding this, UKIP councillor Graham Snell submitted his own motion to the council asking them to reject such a proposal if it were to ever be passed.

During the full council meeting on Wednesday, November 30, Councillor Snell said: “This policy sends a stark message; it says if you fancy a council house go overseas and spend some time fighting for an evil death cult and when you come back, you will have one with our blessing. It’s wrong, totally wrong.”

Leader of the Council, Councillor Rob Gledhill, said: “It should come as no surprise when I say that I wholeheartedly support the motion.

“The idea drives a wedge in the community and it disenfranchises those who have worked hard to get a house."