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Home secretary Shabana Mahmood sparked fury on BBC Breakfast, as she was grilled by presenter Charlie Stayt about the recent stabbing at Golders Green. Two Jewish people were attacked and a terrorist incident declared, with one suspect in custody and accused of attempted murder. Mahmood rejected the possibility of declaring the incident a national emergency despite a string of attacks on the Jewish community in recent months.

On the programme, she said: "I have recognised already that I think our public order legislation, insofar as it relates to protests and hate crime incidents at protests, is potentially out of date. That legal framework needs a fresh look. Lord Ken Macdonald, the director of public prosecutions, has been looking at that for me - he will have his report available later in May and I will respond. But I have already changed the law and I will not hesitate to do so again."

Stayt asked her: "Do you reject this suggestion that this is a national emergency?"

Mahmood was cut off as she tried to respond: "Well I think the phrase national emergency has particular connotations-", with Stayt snapping: "That's why I asked the question."

The minister said: "Yes, and it means that for a period you change your democracy and you disapply some elements of our democratic society-"

She was cut off again by the BBC star, who clarified: "And this is not that?"

Mahmood responded: "I don't believe this is where we are today, but for me this is an absolutely pressing priority, it is an emergency for me as home secretary to respond to because we have seen a spate of attacks, and I know we need to do more in order to secure the safety of our Jewish community.

"It's why we brought forward the investment of £5million, it's why I've already been changing the law in relation to protests and it's why we've got this wider review on public order legislation and hate crime.

"It is my job to make sure that all our legal powers are commensurate to the risks that we are seeing and that we have the powers that we need in order to deal with these issues."

Fuming fans didn't let her off easy, however, as one tweeted: "Horrific but I cannot watch this woman and her excuses."

Another said: "How many will suffer before the government wakes up and actually reacts to what's going on? The government's terrorism adviser is correct."

A third said: "Any marches promoting hate should never be tolerated in our country. I feel so sorry for the Jewish community. It's a national emergency now because this weak government allowed those marches."