Broad ‘extremism’ definition risks clampdown on Christian beliefs

The Government is expected to announce plans to widen its definition of extremism to include those who are deemed to “undermine” ‘British Values’. “All too often, new measures against terrorism or extremism end up endangering rather than protecting religious freedom. We saw this only too well when Ofsted inspectors investigating ‘British Values’ threatened to close Jewish schools if they didn’t teach children about same-sex marriage. What does it even mean to ‘undermine British values’ when there is no consensus – and certainly no legal definition – of what those values are? But the Government introduced an amendment which requires universities to give “particular regard” to freedom of speech when fulfilling their duty under Prevent.