Only those backing violence and hate face being silenced

'Gove himself held a meeting with Extinction Rebellion'

- Ross Clark

HOW typical of some on the Left to treat Michael Gove’s new definition of extremism as an attack on free speech. London Mayor Sadiq Khan lost no time in trying to warn the Communities Secretary that his initiative risks sending organisations underground if they are classed as “extremists” on a government list. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell also spoke out against the proposals.

We know how much some on the Left value free speech when it comes to people who dare to question its orthodoxies, as demonstrated through the hate and bile directed at JK Rowling for refusing to accept that a trans woman is really female.

Two weeks ago, there was the disgusting spectacle of left-wing students at the University of Manchester haranguing a group of students who set up a pro-life group to campaign against abortion and assisted dying. And yesterday came the case of a promising young actress, Seyi Omooba, who lost a part in a stage production of The Color Purple over a historic tweet expressing her religious view that homosexual acts are sinful.

Gove’s announcement has offended some backbench Conservative MPs, too, who are worried that gender-critical feminists will end up on the list and find themselves silenced.