Gove names groups as he unveils extremism definition

Michael Gove has named five groups he said would be assessed against a new government definition of extremism.

The communities secretary told MPs he had concerns about the “Islamist orientation” of three of the organisations.

He also named two groups he said promoted a “Neo-Nazi ideology”.

The new extremism definition applies to, but does not criminalise, groups promoting an ideology based on “violence, hatred or intolerance”.

Groups judged to meet the new definition – expected to be named in the coming weeks – will be blocked from receiving government funding and meeting officials.

The definition has been met with a backlash from civil liberty and community groups, with one of the groups mentioned by Mr Gove threatening legal action if it ends up on the list.

The unveiling of the new definition comes amid the backdrop of heightened community tensions over the Israel-Hamas war, and political rows over the policing of pro-Palestinian marches in London.

The community secretary has said a list of organisations meeting the new definition will be drawn up following “careful” reviews of evidence and consultation with civil servants.

But speaking in the Commons, he said the British National Socialist Movement and Patriotic Alternative would see their activities assessed against the new definition.

He said the groups “promote Neo-Nazi ideology” and were “precisely the type of groups about which we should be concerned”.

He also named the Muslim Association of Britain, Cage and MEND as organisations that “give rise to concern for their Islamist orientation and views”.

“We will be holding these, and other organisations, to account to assess if they meet our definition of extremism and will take action as appropriate,” he added.

He defined Islamism as a “totalitarian ideology” that calls for “an Islamic state governed by sharia law,” and should not be conflated with Islam itself.

The new definition will define extremism as “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to:

1. negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or

2. undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or

3. intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2).”

The chief executive of MEND, Azhar Qayum, said his group was “not at all” extremist and would take the government to court if it ends up listed as such.

Speaking to the BBC, he accused Mr Gove of taking “names out of a hat” under the legal protection afforded to MPs speaking in Parliament.

In the Commons, former Home Office minister Robert Jenrick said Mr Gove’s definition “though well-intentioned, lands in no man’s land”.

He said he feared it would not do enough to “tackle the real extremists,” or do enough to protect people who are “simply expressing contrarian views”.

Fellow Conservative MP Mariam Cates said it could see “gender critical feminists” labelled as extremists, and end up “chilling speech of people who have perfectly legitimate, harmless views”.

Groups and individuals labelled extremist will have the right to seek reassessment and submit new evidence to a review.

If they still disagree, they can challenge the government’s decision through a judicial review of the decision.

Organisations or individuals added to the list will not be criminalised, unlike terrorist groups.

Alongside the redefinition, a new unit – the Counter-Extremism Centre of Excellence – has been set up, to gather intelligence and identify extremist groups.