Government announces updated 'extremism' definition

The Government has announced "an updated, more focused" definition of 'extremism' "to tackle the ever-evolving threat of extremism in the UK".

The new definition will be used by government departments and officials alongside a set of engagement principles, "to ensure they are not inadvertently providing a platform, funding or legitimacy to groups or individuals who attempt to advance extremist ideologies that negate our fundamental rights and freedoms and overturn the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy."

The new definition is not statutory and will have no effect on existing criminal law. It only applies to the operations of Government.

The update comes after the Community Security Trust recorded an 147 per cent increase in antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2023 compared to 2022. Tell MAMA recorded a 335 per cent increase in anti-Muslim hate cases in the last four months.

According to the government: "The new definition provides a stricter characterisation that government can use to make sure that extremist organisations and individuals are not being legitimised or given a platform through their interactions with government."

The new definition reads: "Extremism is 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 new definition is described as "narrower and more precise than the 2011 Prevent definition, which did not provide the detail we now need to assess and identify extremism".

It draws from work by Dame Sara Khan and Sir Mark Rowley’s 2021 ‘Operating with Impunity Report’ and addresses key recommendations from the 2023 Independent Review of Prevent.

At the same time, the government is also publishing a set of engagement principles which are designed to help officials to engage more widely whilst mitigating the risk of undertaking engagement that undermines government’s core aims to: maintain public confidence in government; uphold democratic values; and protect the rights and freedoms of others.

UK Ministerial departments will be expected to consider the engagement standards when deciding whether to move forward with engagement with groups that meet the new definition. This aims to ensure the government does not meet, fund or provide a platform to extremist groups or individuals.

A new counter-extremism centre of excellence has been established in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The unit aims to provide leadership for the cross-government counter-extremism community, ensure consistent application of the definition and engagement standards, and take the lead on producing strategic assessments of extremism. It will draw on the expertise of the Commission for Countering Extremism  as well as counter extremism policy fellows.

Michael Gove, secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities said: "The United Kingdom is a success story – a multi-national, multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy. It is stronger because of its diversity.  

"But our democracy and our values of inclusivity and tolerance are under challenge from extremists. In order to protect our democratic values, it is important both to reinforce what we have in common and to be clear and precise in identifying the dangers posed by extremism.

"The pervasiveness of extremist ideologies has become increasingly clear in the aftermath of the 7 October attacks and poses a real risk to the security of our citizens and our democracy. This is the work of Extreme Right-Wing and Islamist extremists who are seeking to separate Muslims from the rest of society and create division within Muslim communities. They seek to radicalise individuals, deny people their full rights, suppress freedom of expression, incite hatred, and undermine our democratic institutions.

"Today’s measures will ensure that government does not inadvertently provide a platform to those setting out to subvert democracy and deny other people’s fundamental rights. This is the first in a series of measures to tackle extremism and protect our democracy."

Lord Walney, independent adviser on political violence and disruption, said: "The threat to Britain from extremists includes those who may not use violence directly yet target our core values, so it is welcome that this updated definition includes those who seek to undermine or replace liberal democracy.

"Greater clarity in defining extremism can underpin a concerted approach across civil society to protect our country.”

However, others have been critical of the move. Earlier this week, former Home Secretaries Priti Patel, Sajid Javid and Amber Rudd wrote an open letter warning the government against using extremism to score political points with a general election coming up.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said on X: "The Government's new definition of extremism not only inadvertently threatens freedom of speech but also the right to worship, and risks disproportionately targeting Muslim communities.

"Labelling a multi-faceted problem as hateful extremism may vilify the wrong people and risk yet more division in our nation."

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay