UK politics - live: Michael Gove names Muslim and white supremacist groups as he outlines extremism definition
Labour leader Keir Starmer says Diane Abbott ‘needs an arm around her’ but restoring whip still depends on investigation
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The government has identified groups that could face restrictions following the publication of the new “extremism” definition amid rising concerns about threats to social cohesion and British democracy.
A ban on white supremacist group British National Socialist Movement and Patriotic Alterntive engaging with the government will be considered, as well as anti-War on Terror group CAGE , Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) and Muslim Association with Britain, which he says “give rise to concern”.
The groups will be assessed for whether they met the definition of extremism, Levelling Up secretary Michael Gove said.
He told MPs the country’s values of inclusivity and tolerance were “under challenge from extremist groups which are radicalising our young people and driving greater polarisation within and between communities to further their own ends”.
Earlier, he said the new definition of extremism was not intended to stop people from protesting amid fears it could curtail free speech.
Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the former Labour MP Diane Abbott needed “an arm around her” but the issue of restoring the whip was completely different and still subject to investigation.
Plan ‘will label gender-critical feminists extremists', warns MP
Gender-critical feminists will be labelled extremists under the government’s new definition, a Conservative MP told the Commons.
Miriam Cates also questioned the impartiality of civil servants whose job it will be to advise the minister on whether organisations meet the extremism definition.
The MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge said: “In separating the definition of extremism from actual violence and harm and using terms like fundamental rise which don’t actually have a definition in law, we do risk criminalising or at the very least chilling speech of people who have perfectly legitimate, harmless views.”
She added: “Gender-critical feminists might be intolerant of the rights of people to change their sex on their birth certificates, they might be seeking to undermine that right by seeking to appeal the Gender Recognition Act, for example.
“They will be labelled extremists under these regulations as I can see it, and as to impartial civil servants deciding these things, I’m afraid I just don’t think that’s always the case, and certainly I have seen civil servants wearing very impartial lanyards on this particular issue.”
Scottish Tory leader says party must look at returning Hester donations
The return of donations by Frank Hester to the Conservative Party should be “looked at”, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has said.
Mr Ross said the Scottish Conservatives had not received donations from Mr Hester.
The Moray MP said the alleged comments by Mr Hester about Ms Abbot were “racist, unacceptable and wrong”, adding: “There can be no dubiety around that.
“I think it was unacceptable and wrong, and the party at a UK level needs to look at that donation.”
Jenrick slates ‘no-man’s land’ plan
Former minister Robert Jenrick criticised the plan, saying the new definition of extremism “lands in no man’s land”, being neither strong enough to tackle true extremists nor protect contrarian views.
He told the Commons: “I fear that the definition, though well intentioned, lands in no-man’s land: Not going far enough to tackle the real extremists, not doing enough to protect the non-extremists, those people who are simply expressing contrarian views who might find this definition used against them, not perhaps now, but possibly in the future.
“What reassurance can he give me and others who are concerned about that?”
Michael Gove replied: “I think it is much less likely that this definition could be misused than the preceding definition, which was looser, baggier and capable of many more interpretations than this much tighter definition.”
Leak inquiry to be launched
An inquiry will be launched into the leaking of details of the government’s new extremism definition before its official release, Michael Gove said.
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner raised concerns over how the policy had been trailed in recent weeks, telling the Commons: “It’s not right that we have spent the last few days poring over a possible new definition in the papers.
“And it’s not right that the department has leaked the names of groups that may or may not be covered by this definition when he rightly says this work should be based on due diligence.”
Communities Secretary Mr Gove replied: “The shadow secretary of state mentioned the leaking of some information relating to our work on this.
“I deprecate that leaking. It is fundamentally a challenge to the effective operation of government and a leak inquiry has been commissioned in order to see how some of the information about our statement today was shared.”
A defining moment as ministers update what counts as extremism
Ministers are set to unveil a new definition of extremism this week but will it ease tensions in society or risk inflaming them further? Kate Devlin looks at the plans
Diane Abbott needs an arm around her, says Keir Starmer
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said the former Labour MP Diane Abbott needs “an arm around her” but the issue of restoring the whip was completely different and subject to a continuing investigation.
Sir Keir would not be drawn into whether Ms Abbott could expect to have the whip restored, saying the investigation into her conduct was not resolved.
The Labour leader told BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine the longest-serving black MP was a trailblazer, and called the language allegedly used by Frank Hester abhorrent.
But he said the issue of allowing the Hackney MP back into the party was an entirely different issue.
He added: “That was about allegations of antisemitism in relation to a letter… which is subject to an ongoing investigation, which is separate from me. That’s not something which I conduct.”
Rayner: Whole house should work together to tackle extremism
MPs from across the Commons must work together to tackle extremism, Angela Rayner has said.
Labour’s deputy leader said her party would “scrutinise” the new definition and questioned why the government’s anti-terror strategy hadn’t been updated for nine years.
She told the Commons: “Hateful extremism threatens the safety of our communities and the unity of our country. Everyone across this house can agree that this is a serious problem which demands a serious response.
“So, I want to begin by saying from the outset when it comes to our national security, when it comes to the threat of radicalisation, when it comes to the toxic scourge of Islamophobia, neo-Nazism, antisemitism or any other corrosive hatred, the whole house can and should work together.
“The way the government does this work matters and the language we all use is important. And I want to welcome the secretary of state’s opening words that it is our diversity and our values which make our country stronger.”
Ms Rayner said elected representatives “must be free to represent the views of our constituents”, adding: “We all have a responsibility to work to extinguish the flames of division and never to fan them.
“We will scrutinise this new definition and it will be crucial to see the way it is applied in practice.”
Ms Rayner sought clarity on which groups the definition will affect before criticising the “appalling surge” in antisemitism and Islamophobia in recent months, asking for an updated hate crime action plan.
No 10: Government will publish list of groups under review in coming weeks
A list of organisations covered by the UK government’s new definition of extremism is to be published “in the coming weeks”, Downing Street said.
Asked about the publication timeline, the prime minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “There is going to be a robust process led by subject-matter experts within the department, advised by other experts, with ultimate sign-off from the communities secretary and the home secretary.
“I’m not going to put a timeframe on this now, other than saying that it will be in the coming weeks.”
The No 10 spokesman said the definition had a “very narrow and precise focus” and there would be a “very high threshold” for its application.
He added: “It is not about those who challenge the government through democratic means, nor those who protest peacefully — we will always protect free speech.”
He continued: “I would also just point out that the approach we are taking is very similar to those that are taken by other European nations like France, Germany and the Netherlands.”
Gove: Activities of extreme-right are ‘growing worry’
The activities of the extreme-right wing are a growing worry, sommunities secretary Michael Gove said.
Mr Gove said neo-Nazi groups such as the British National Socialist Movement and Patriotic Alternative will be assessed under the government’s new definition of extremism.
He told the Commons: “We are in no way intending to restrict freedom of expression, religion or belief, but the government cannot be in a position where unwittingly or not we sponsor, subsidise or support in any way organisations (or) individuals opposed to the freedoms we hold dear.
“I’m sure that we would agree that organisations such as the British National Socialist Movement and Patriotic Alternative who promote neo-Nazi ideology, argue for forced repatriation, a white ethno-state and the targeting of minority groups for intimidation, are precisely the type of groups about which we should be concerned and whose activities we will assess against the new definition.
“The activities of the extreme-right wing are a growing worry, the targeting of Muslim and Jewish communities and individuals by these groups is of profound concern requiring assertive action.”
Government is ‘clear-eyed' about threat of extremism - Gove
The government is being clear-eyed about the threat of extremism to “beat this poison”, the Communities Secretary told the Commons.
Michael Gove said: “The time has come for us all to stand together to combat the forces of division and to beat this poison.
“The liberties we hold dear, and indeed the democratic principles we’re all sent here to uphold, require us to counter and challenge the extremists who seek to intimidate, to coerce and to divide.
“We have to be clear-eyed about the threat we face, precise about where that threat comes from, and rigorous in defending our democracy.
“That means upholding freedom of expression, religion and belief when they are threatened, facing down harassment and hate, supporting the communities facing the greatest challenge from extremist activity and ensuring this House and this country are safe, free and united.”
Critical we don’t fund extremist groups - Gove
Gove says that, in working with civic society groups, it was critical that the government did not inadvertently fund or support extremist groups.
He adds that, in the past, some of these groups have sought to present themselves as “moderate voices” but were found to have extremist views.
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