Experts have warned that far right groups are weaponising Christianity for their political agendas and have urged churches to speak out against right-wing extremism.

They said groups like Britain First and supporters of the jailed far right activist Tommy Robinson are increasingly using Christian rhetoric to try and build support for their political causes.

The Scottish Government is also monitoring the issue. A response to a freedom of information request by The Ferret revealed its safer communities division suggested staff attend a recent seminar called Christianity and Far Right Extremism, hosted by a think tank called Theos.

The organisers said far right extremism has gained ground over recent years in the US and UK, and has sometimes done so by using Christian language, symbols and imagery.

Far right groups claiming to be Christian include Britain First. In 2014, its members targeted mosques across the UK with bibles, calling it a 'Christian crusade'. Supporters also paraded through Muslim-majority areas of UK cities, with large crosses.

One of the speakers at the Theos webinar was Dr Maria Power, a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford. She is co-editor of The Church, the Far Right, and the Claim to Christianity, a book published last year on the church's response to the rise of the far right.

The toxic and divisive rhetoric of the far right have no place in our society.

Roz Foyer, STUC

Power told The Ferret: "One of the main problems facing the churches in dealing with right-wing extremism is the fact that many of the 'extremists' are speaking and spreading hate from within the church. The Christian churches need to exercise their teaching authority more and speak out against such examples of right-wing extremism, demonstrating how these belief systems are counter to the teachings of Christianity."

She said one of the best things churches can do to combat right-wing extremism is to fund youth work. "At present, not enough funding is being directed towards youth work, either in the churches or within society as a whole, and this is a fundamental problem. Young people need community, and right-wing extremist groups provide this for them when the churches don't."

Patrik Hermansson, senior researcher at the anti-racism charity HOPE not hate, said there are many groups that connect themselves with Christianity. The clearest example is probably Britain First, he told The Ferret, adding that "increasingly Tommy Robinson's supporters have begun using this rhetoric as well".

Another factor is US influence, which Hermansson said, has been increasing for a number of years. He claimed some of this "relates to Christian institutions funding far right activity in the UK, and US reactionaries building relationships with Christian reactionary groups and activists in the UK."

Donald Trump's US election win "spurred on the far right in the UK and is generally supported by it", he added with the caveat "it is probably too early to tell of outright influence."

Last week a summit aimed at tackling the threat from the far right, hosted by first minister John Swinney, was held in Scotland. About 50 organisations, including political parties, faith groups and charities, attended the forum in Glasgow. Swinney claimed that shared values were under "huge threat" from disinformation and pressure from the "hard right".

All Holyrood parties except the Conservatives attended the event. Nigel Farage's Reform UK party was not invited. Farage claimed Reform was "never part of the far right".

Britain First, the Catholic Church and Church of Scotland were asked to comment.

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Home Office withheld information about Scots far right party due to 'national security'

Meanwhile, a separate request for information by The Ferret about a far right political party registered in Scotland was refused by the Home Office, which cited concerns surrounding "national security".

We asked the UK Go...