Here, for the record, is the content, which with extended commentary can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... emism-2024
It then immediately weasels - within the definition area itself - with "The types of behaviour below are indicative of the kind of promotion or advancement which may be relevant to the definition, and are an important guide to its application. The further context below is also an essential part of the definition."Extremism is 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; or
- intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2).
That prevents the actual definition from being independently interpreted, other than being in reference to what Michael Gove considers context instead of what I consider context - my context being extremism, of course, rather than the tunnel vision of Michael Gove.
The definition runs to 59 words. The proffered context which "is also an essential part of the definition" runs a further 989 words excluding the copious footnotes.
I would highlight the obvious, since he also defines Parliamentary democracy: "The UK is a parliamentary democracy which consists of a constitutional monarch as Head of State, who exercises a number of constitutional and ceremonial duties; Parliament, which is the supreme legislative authority with the ability to make or unmake any law; government, which is drawn from and accountable to Parliament; and a judiciary which is independent from government and Parliament." - it is considered extremist to press for republican government and the abolition of the monarchy. I don't see how that can avoid being central to his statement, though no doubt the gentleman will back-pedal and say no no no.
I also note the gentleman has failed to exclude Christians from being defined as extremists and having their government subsidies and funding removed. I look forward to providing instances of Christian extremism within this definition repeatedly as this thread grows.
What do you mean you've never seen Christians behave as described? Are we not enjoined to seek and advance the End of Days, to establish the New Jerusalem? What sort of defective bible study groups have you been attending. The only salvation is through Jesus, remember? The unbaptised are all damned, destined for the eternal fires of hell, and if that's not hate speech I don't know what is. There's nothing on earth so intolerant as a bona-fide ideological Christian - go and ask the Irish. (other persecuted sectarian victims are also available)