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Cooper to reject call to widen extremism definition Ministers reject call to widen extremism definition
(about 1 hour later)
The government is set to reject internal advice to widen the definition of extremism to include potentially violent environmentalists, the far left, conspiracy theorists and men prejudiced against women. The government has rejected internal advice to widen the definition of extremism to include potentially violent environmentalists, the far left, conspiracy theorists and men prejudiced against women.
The BBC has been told Home Secretary Yvette Cooper does not agree with the central findings of a rapid "sprint" report she commissioned last year, and will order the government to continue to focus on Islamist and far-right extremism.
It comes after sections of the report were leaked to the right-leaning Policy Exchange think tank, which criticised the recommendations.It comes after sections of the report were leaked to the right-leaning Policy Exchange think tank, which criticised the recommendations.
A Home Office spokesperson said the government is "considering a wide range of potential next steps arising" from the report. Home Office minister Dan Jarvis said the government "rejected this advice" adding that "Islamist extremism followed by far-right extremism are the biggest threats we face".
"The counter extremism sprint sought to comprehensively assess the challenge facing our country and lay the foundations for a new approach to tackling extremism - so we can stop people being drawn towards hateful ideologies," the spokesperson said. He said these ideologies "continue to be at the heart of our approach to countering extremism and terror".
"This includes tackling Islamism and extreme right-wing ideologies, which are the most prominent today". "But as the horrific Southport attack shows, alongside that we also need more action on those drawn towards mixed ideologies and violent obsessed young people," he added.
Cooper commissioned Home Office officials to conduct a rapid review of the UK's approach to extremism, in the wake of the last summer's riots across the UK following the murder of three young girls in Southport. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper commissioned Home Office officials to conduct a rapid review of the UK's approach to extremism, in the wake of the last summer's riots across the UK following the murder of three young girls in Southport.
The review was tasked with shaping a new counter-extremism strategy, addressing online and offline threats from Islamist and the far-right alongside a broader spectrum of extremism.The review was tasked with shaping a new counter-extremism strategy, addressing online and offline threats from Islamist and the far-right alongside a broader spectrum of extremism.
Speaking at the time, Cooper said the review would "identify any gaps in existing policy which need to be addressed to crack down on those pushing harmful and hateful beliefs and violence".Speaking at the time, Cooper said the review would "identify any gaps in existing policy which need to be addressed to crack down on those pushing harmful and hateful beliefs and violence".
Leaked sections of the report, published by Policy Exchange, recommend the government's counter-extremism strategy shift focus to "behaviours of concern" rather than "ideologies".Leaked sections of the report, published by Policy Exchange, recommend the government's counter-extremism strategy shift focus to "behaviours of concern" rather than "ideologies".
Behaviours of concern include violence against women, spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories, fascination with gore or involvement in the online subculture called the "manosphere" - which promotes misogyny and opposition to feminism.Behaviours of concern include violence against women, spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories, fascination with gore or involvement in the online subculture called the "manosphere" - which promotes misogyny and opposition to feminism.
According to Policy Exchange, the report admits many who display such behaviours would not count as extremist.According to Policy Exchange, the report admits many who display such behaviours would not count as extremist.
Policy Exchange has not made public the leaked version of the Home Office report, but published its own assessment which quoted extensively from the document. The think tank has not made public the leaked version of the Home Office report, but published its own assessment which quoted extensively from the document.
The government's current strategy, known as Contest,, external is "ideologically agnostic".The government's current strategy, known as Contest,, external is "ideologically agnostic".
But counter-extremist officers focus most their efforts tackling Islamism and right-wing extremism - the two most dominant threats to the UK. But counter-extremist officers focus most of their efforts tackling Islamism and right-wing extremism - the two most dominant threats to the UK.
MI5 Director Ken McCallum said in October that UK counter-terror, external efforts deal 75% with Islamist threats and 25% with far-right extremists.MI5 Director Ken McCallum said in October that UK counter-terror, external efforts deal 75% with Islamist threats and 25% with far-right extremists.
The report urges expanding extremism's definition to cover, alongside Islamists and extreme right-wing:The report urges expanding extremism's definition to cover, alongside Islamists and extreme right-wing:
extreme misogyny,extreme misogyny,
pro-Khalistan extremism, advocating for an independent Sikh statepro-Khalistan extremism, advocating for an independent Sikh state
Hindu nationalist extremism,Hindu nationalist extremism,
environmental extremism,environmental extremism,
left wing, anarchist and single-issue extremism (LASI), left-wing, anarchist and single-issue extremism (LASI),
violence fascination and,violence fascination and,
conspiracy theoriesconspiracy theories
The Home Office review found claims of two-tier policing, where two groups are allegedly treated differently after similar behaviour, were a right-wing extremist narrative leaking into mainstream debates.The Home Office review found claims of two-tier policing, where two groups are allegedly treated differently after similar behaviour, were a right-wing extremist narrative leaking into mainstream debates.
Government sources have strongly criticised the report and said certain elements of it were shocking, despite it having been conducted by the Home Office's own officials.Government sources have strongly criticised the report and said certain elements of it were shocking, despite it having been conducted by the Home Office's own officials.
The rejection of the review by several Home Office ministers does not seem an ideal state of affairs - and the government will need to work out a way, whether based on the report or not, to deal with violent individuals and ideologies.The rejection of the review by several Home Office ministers does not seem an ideal state of affairs - and the government will need to work out a way, whether based on the report or not, to deal with violent individuals and ideologies.
The BBC has not seen a full copy of the report.The BBC has not seen a full copy of the report.
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was last week sentenced to a minimum of 52 years jail for the "sadistic" murders of three young girls.Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was last week sentenced to a minimum of 52 years jail for the "sadistic" murders of three young girls.
In response, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said terrorism "has changed" in Britain and said a review would be carried out into "our entire counter-extremist system".In response, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said terrorism "has changed" in Britain and said a review would be carried out into "our entire counter-extremist system".
He said that in the past "the predominant threat was highly organised groups with clear political intent. Groups like Al-Qaeda.
"That threat of course remains. But now, alongside that we also see acts of extreme violence perpetrated by loners, misfits, young men in their bedroom, accessing all manner of material online, desperate for notoriety."
The Policy Exchange authors, who released the Home Office findings, said the review "runs in the wrong direction".The Policy Exchange authors, who released the Home Office findings, said the review "runs in the wrong direction".
Former journalist and government advisor Andrew Gilligan and Paul Stott, the head of security and extremism at Policy Exchange, said: "The purpose of counter-extremism and counter-terrorism is to defend the security of the country, its democratic values and institutions against those whose beliefs and acts intentionally threaten them.Former journalist and government advisor Andrew Gilligan and Paul Stott, the head of security and extremism at Policy Exchange, said: "The purpose of counter-extremism and counter-terrorism is to defend the security of the country, its democratic values and institutions against those whose beliefs and acts intentionally threaten them.
"Such threats come overwhelmingly from those with an ideological or political motive, principally Islamism but also far-right and other forms of extremism.""Such threats come overwhelmingly from those with an ideological or political motive, principally Islamism but also far-right and other forms of extremism."
The report's recommendations "risk swamping already stretched" security services, while redefining extremism "threatens free speech," the authors said.The report's recommendations "risk swamping already stretched" security services, while redefining extremism "threatens free speech," the authors said.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: "By extending the definition of extremism so widely, the government risks losing focus on ideologically motivated terrorists who pose the most risk to life."
He added: "Other appalling and unacceptable criminal behaviour that is not ideologically motivated – of which there are many kinds – should be dealt with via the police and criminal justice system, and via other agencies such as social services and mental health services, including sectioning those that present a risk."
Additional reporting by Sam Francis.Additional reporting by Sam Francis.