MINISTERS are considering expanding the definition of extremism and banning MPs from engaging with protest groups as part of a crackdown on people “undermining” Britain’s institutions or values.
According to reports, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has asked Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove to update the Government’s definition of extremism - set more than a decade ago - which currently defines it as “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values”.
A new definition is expected to cover those whose actions more broadly “undermine” the UK’s institutions or values.
Gove is also expected to announce details of a new Government unit for tackling extremism which is likely to assess whether individuals or groups have breached the new definition.
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Ministers are also said to be mulling over plans to stop MPs from engaging with groups like the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which has organised large pro-Palestine marches up and down the country.
The proposals have been floated by John Woodcock, a crossbench peer and independent government adviser on tackling political violence, who says party leaders should take a “zero-tolerance approach” to MPs who fraternise with groups which carry out disruptive protests or turn a blind-eye to racism.
The change in the extremism definition will be significant given that groups deemed as fitting into the description can be excluded from government and council funding and banned from working with public bodies.
Senior Whitehall sources said that the announcement, expected later this month, would include a list of groups that fell foul of the new definition, but added that this was still being worked on and was “legally fraught”.
As part of the broader package, the Home Office is drawing up a list of foreign extremist preachers who will be banned from entry into Britain.
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It comes after Sunak made a speech outside Number 10 last Friday warning against the “poison” of extremism.
He claimed extremist groups in the UK are “trying to tear us apart” after George Galloway won the Rochdale by-election on a platform that focused on anti-Israel sentiment over Gaza.
Gove said that Sunak was “absolutely right” about the need for new powers to tackle extremism.
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