New extremism definition will 'help us choose friends wisely' - Gove

1. Gove speaking to BBC Breakfast

   

   PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

   Communities Secretary Michael GoveImage caption: Communities Secretary Michael Gove

   Communities Secretary Michael Gove is speaking to BBC Breakfast now on the new definition of extremism.

   Stay with us for updates, and you can watch by clicking Play at the top of the page.

2. Civil liberties groups and MPs criticise government rhetoric on extremism

   Community groups and MPs have warned the government against politicising extremism.

   Zara Mohammed, head of the Muslim Council of Britain, told BBC Newsnight the definition would lead to the "unfair targeting of Muslim communities".

   Azhar Qayum, CEO of Muslim Engagement and Development, said "delegitimising lawful dissent in this way is itself undermining liberal democratic principles" and that he had "placed the government on legal notice".

   Brendan Cox, husband of murdered MP Jo Cox and founder of Survivors Against Terror said the new definition was "not the scorched earth policy that we feared a few weeks ago".

   He added there were "some constructive elements" to it but that the government's approach had been "mismanaged and mishandled".

3. Good morning

   Alex Therrien

   Live reporter

   Good morning.

   Today, Communities Secretary Michael Gove is setting out a new definition of extremism in the UK, in a move he said was aimed at protecting the country's "democratic values".

   Under the new definition, groups that promote an ideology based on "violence, hatred or intolerance" will be blocked from government funding and meeting officials.

   The issue of extremism has dominated the political agenda in recent weeks, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak labelling it a threat to democracy in a speech outside No 10 two weeks ago.

   Gove will discuss the new policy on the broadcast round and is first up at 07:30 on BBC Breakfast. Stay with us for updates and analysis.