Christians and free speech campaigners have responded with concern to the government’s plans to redefine ‘extremism’.
The new definition could catch legitimate beliefs, including opposition to abortion, gay marriage, and transgender ideology.
The government wants to combat Islamic and far-right extremism by defining extremism as any ideology that ‘undermines the rights or freedoms of others’.
Communities Secretary Michael Gove is set to outline plans for a new definition of ‘extremism’ and then to block groups deemed to be ‘extremist’ from accessing venues or public funding.
It is believed the definition of extremism will include those who are deemed to ‘undermine British Values’.