Rishi Sunak’s focus on extremism risks boosting Reform UK, Tory MPs warn

Senior members of the Conservative party have cautioned that the emphasis on extremism by the government is bolstering Reform UK, the populist political party that is against immigration. Michael Gove, who is the communities secretary, is currently developing a fresh explanation of this issue.

Lee Anderson, previously a deputy chair of the Conservative party, made headlines on Monday as he announced his switch to the Reform UK party. In his statement, Anderson expressed his belief that Britain is being surrendered bit by bit and stated his desire to reclaim his country.

A group of Conservative MPs opine that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his administration could enhance their strategy by toning down their language on radicalism and fixating more on the economy following the recent Budget.

An ex-cabinet minister stated, "Engaging in such an act is what you do when you are planning to leave your job. This plays right into the hands of Reform. Shouldn't we be discussing the budget instead?"

The Reform UK party, which was created after the Brexit party led by Nigel Farage, focuses on topics including the movement of people, radicalism and the idea of being socially aware, and is a major concern for the conservative side of politics before the upcoming national election projected to take place this year.

Reform UK is planning to compete in more than 600 of the 650 UK parliamentary constituencies during the upcoming election. Unlike the last general election in 2019, where the Brexit party agreed to not put up candidates in over 300 seats held by the Conservative party, Reform UK has no intention of making any such agreements and will not entertain discussions regarding a potential alliance with the Tories.

On Thursday, Gove will present a concise description of extremism, according to Downing Street. The intention is to make sure that the government doesn't unintentionally support or promote groups or people who promote extremist beliefs, whether it be through funding or giving them a platform.

The current description of extremism was made about 10 years ago and says that it's when someone speaks out or takes action against British values. Gove wants to make changes to the definition to include Islamist and far-right fundamentalism.

As informed by individuals familiar with the matter, the new phrasing, which is currently in the process of being completed, will likely pertain to the promotion or spreading of beliefs centred around animosity, narrow-mindedness, or aggression. Additionally, it will encompass actions that challenge or disintegrate the entitlements or liberties of others, and even those that subvert the fundamental foundation of democracy.

Although the government is hesitant to release a compilation of establishments that fit the updated classification due to potential lawsuits, it is exploring the possibility of declaring certain ones in parliament with parliamentary privilege.

Gove will have to be very careful in his political approach, as some members of the Conservative party have expressed concerns that he may unintentionally bring attention to the subject. This comes at a time when Reform UK is experiencing a rise in popularity, currently polling at 11.2%, as reported by the Financial Times poll tracker.

One prominent Tory MP from the moderate One Nation faction of the party believes that those who were perplexed by the reasonably good Budget are probably under the impression that only controversial topics will garner attention.

On Monday, a group of 12 people including Dame Priti Patel, Sir Sajid Javid, and Amber Rudd (who are all former Conservative home secretaries) released a statement cautioning against the dangers of making anti-extremism a political issue.

The Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, who is a member of the Conservative Party, stated to the Financial Times that he disagrees with the recent statement made by Chancellor Rishi Sunak. Sunak had said that "mob rule is replacing democratic rule," but Street believes that this perspective is not in line with his personal beliefs.

He stated, "The depiction does not match what I see in person in the West Midlands. I am resolute in my belief that, as the most culturally varied region in the UK, it should also be the most accepting place where all religions can live in harmony."

At the same time, a few conservative Tory Members of Parliament who hold traditional values such as Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates have expressed concerns that Gove's explanation might limit the freedom of expression and determine what can be considered appropriate in a contemporary democratic society.

According to Cates' article in The Critic, a lot of individuals argue that gender critical feminists hold an "extreme" view by advocating against the admission of males in female spaces. However, Cates argues that what may be deemed as extremist by some can be viewed as a brave advocacy for an unpopular cause by others.

Anderson, who serves as the Member of Parliament for Ashfield, made a change in his political stance. This occurred after he was removed from the Conservative Party last month. He chose not to apologize for his comments suggesting that the Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was under the control of Islamists.

Anderson addressed the public on Monday in front of a display of union flags, stating that individuals who refuse to assimilate are immigrating to the United Kingdom.

According to him, he won't leave his position in the Commons to trigger a by-election. He claims that a general election may occur in the near future. The Conservative authorities are optimistic about retaking Ashfield during the general election.

In the beginning of 2023, Anderson was chosen by Sunak to be the deputy chair of the Tory party. However, in January of that same year, Anderson decided to step down from his position as he fiercely opposed a major bill, designed to support Sunak's strategy of relocating asylum seekers to Rwanda. Anderson believed that the proposed legislation needed to be strengthened.

The Member of Parliament has recently become a part of his third political party in the last six years. He had previously served as a councillor for the Labour party before changing sides and joining the Tory party in 2018.

According to the Conservative party, voting for the Reform party would not bring any positive outcomes, rather it would lead to a Labour government under Keir Starmer's leadership. This could result in a return to the starting point, with increased taxes and energy expenses, no improvements regarding channel crossings, and a lack of control over immigration.

In casual English: Pat McFadden, who is in charge of Labour's campaign, asked, "If Rishi Sunak thought it was a good idea to promote Lee Anderson, what does that say about his decision-making skills?"

In reality, the leader of the government does not possess the strength to guide a political organization that is excessively radical to be properly guided. If the Conservative Party were to remain in power for an additional five years, the situation would only deteriorate further.