Communities Secretary Michael Gove has unveiled a new definition of extremism - as "the promotion or advancement of... violence, hatred or intolerance"
He tells the Commons that groups like British National Socialist Movement and Patriotic Alternative will be assessed "against the new definition"
He also says the Muslim Association of Britain, Cage, and other groups will be "held to account to assess if they meet our definition of extremism"
"Islamism should not be confused with Islam," Gove tells MPs. "Islam is a great faith...Islamism is a totalitarian ideology"
Earlier he told the BBC the new definition would help the government "choose its friends wisely"
The definition will be used by government officials to cut ties or funding to groups deemed to have crossed a line
But civil liberties groups, community groups and some MPs have criticised the move - saying it could risk free speech, or lead to unfair treatment
Earlier this morning, Communities Secretary Michael Gove was asked about whether alleged comments made by Tory donor Frank Hester were "extremist".
Watch his response below.
Gove asked if Tory donor's alleged comments meet new extremism definition
On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Gove is first asked what's happened since October 7 - when Hamas launched its deadly cross-border attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 200 people hostage - to warrant this new definition.
Gove says there's been a "significant increase" in antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred on the streets and on social media.
He says it's important the government is able to choose "our friends wisely" and avoid government money and sponsorship going to organisations that have been extremist.
Communities Secretary Michael Gove is now talking about the definition of extremism on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Stay with us for updates.
Bringing communities together should be the "priority" in government, its independent adviser on antisemitism has said.
Lord John Mann told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think that the government needs to listen to people who are advising that the politics of division will not work.
"The Jewish community is under tremendous harassment and the hassle at the moment, feels very bombarded by everything.
"Bringing communities together is the key role of government, so that should be the priority.
Mann, a former Labour MP, added that "anything that leads to division amongst communities is bad for the country; is bad for the politics of the country".
A former independent adviser to the government on defining Islamophobia has said the new definition is likely to “impact on certain communities disproportionately", in particular Muslims.
Speaking to BBC 4’s Today programme, Imam Qari Asim said: “My fear is potentially it will actually result in more extremism and people going underground, and as a result, being manipulated or exploited by real extremists.”
Asim said the new definition was "problematic in the sense that it is not legal and therefore it has no effect on the existing criminal law - that was in the minds of certain ministers when proposing this definition".
He added he believed that it may not be applied consistently but subjectively and “this may create different standards for different groups".
Asim added that there should be broad consensus and consultation on the definition of extremism and different groups should be gathered to discuss.
Image source, YouTube / PAFrank Hester, pictured in 2022
Michael Gove is now being asked about whether £10m given by Conservative party donor Frank Hester has already been spent.
"I'm afraid I don't know," replies Gove.
He is asked if comments Hester allegedly made about MP Diane Abbott count as an "extremist view".
Gove says he takes the kind of language Hester is alleged to have used "extremely seriously", but he does not say whether it is extremist.
As a reminder, Hester is alleged to have said that Abbott, the UK's longest-stand black MP, made him "want to hate all black women".
Rishi Sunak has said those remarks were racist, but that there were no plans to return the donated money.
Gove says it "wouldn't be me making a decision [about extremism] based on a quote, however horrific - it would be a due diligence process".
The communities secretary says he hopes the new definition will mean "due diligence" is taken in a "rigorous way", and that money is directed to vital work at a time of increased polarisation in society.
He says the government is supportive of free speech, but if the government doesn't like the actions of a particular group they won't get funding.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Michael Gove says the definition is needed to be "more precise" because of increasing anti-Muslim and antisemitic sentiment.
He says the government feels some people have taken advantage of the current policy.
Gove says the new definition will "help us choose friends wisely".
Image source, PA MediaCommunities 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.
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".
The new definition of extremism describes it as "the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance" that aims to "negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others" or "undermine, overturn or replace the UK's system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights".
The previous definition, introduced in 2011 under the Prevent strategy, described extremism as "vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and belief".
The government says the new one is "narrower and more precise" and will help "clearly articulate" how extremism is "evidenced" in behaviours.
It also says there will be a "high bar" to being classed as extremist and the policy will not target those with "private, peaceful beliefs".
It is not known which groups the government proposes to label as extremist, though it has promised to publish a list in the coming weeks and suggested Islamists and neo-Nazis will be targeted.
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.