Gove seeks funding for new plan to tackle anti-Israel extremists
Communities secretary Michael Gove asks Treasury to back national cohesion plan to counter threat posed to UK democracy by 'extremist' groups
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Michael Gove has approached the Treasury over the funding of a “national cohesion and counter-extremism plan” with new focus on tackling radical Islamist ideology in the UK.
Jewish News understands that emphasis has been placed on the proposals in recent weeks after pro-Palestine demos across Britain have seen fringe groups calling for “jihad” and “intifada” on Britain’s streets.
Gove’s Levelling Up, Housing and Communities department had already commenced a review into current definitions of extremism earlier this year.
Sources say the minister has asked for around £40m in funding from the Treasury in order to kickstart the counter-extremism project.
One insider said:”The recent upsurge in extremist anti-Israel activity on Britain’s streets, along with the small pockets of support for the proscribed Hamas organisation are an obvious sign of how the government has taken its eye off of the ball in recent years to this problem.
“Michael [Gove] is more convinced than ever of the need for a proper new and long-term government response.”
The review into existing definitions of extremism was started over fears that radical Islamist organisations along with groups on the far-right, were currently able to operate without fear of breaking the law in the UK.
Even though many of these groups held views that were deemed to be a threat to British democracy.
Reports last weekend suggested Gove had begun talks with the home office over a possible new definition of extremism which would include any person who is deemed to “undermine” the country’s institutions and its values.
Groups that could fall foul of any new definition reportedly included the anti-Israel group Palestine Action and the Muslim advocacy organisation Mend (Muslim Engagement & Development).
It is understood that some around the Communities Secretary believe that the government has “taken its eye off of the ball” in relation to the continued threat posed to the UK by radical Islamist ideology.
The global scale and impact of the pandemic, and the response of government’s around the world, was an obvious reason for focus being diverted away from counter-terrorism projects.
Gove is also believed to want to mirror the work that used to be done by think tanks such as the Quilliam Foundation into counter-extremism and Islamism.
Prior to its closure in 2021 Qulliam aimed to lobby government and public institutions for more nuanced policies regarding Islam and on the need for greater democracy in the Muslim world whilst empowering “moderate Muslim” voices.
The organisation openly opposed any Islamist ideology and championed freedom of expression.
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