Naga Munchetty praised for 'tying Michael Gove in knots' with 'right question'
BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty was praised by viewers for "tying Michael Gove in knots" with "all the right questions".
The presenter was back on screens on Thursday morning as the government announced its new definition of extremism. Tory frontbencher Michael Gove issued new rules demanding they don't give platforms to far right and Islamist groups. However, critics have argued it threatens freedom of speech, worship, and peaceful protest.
Gove joined Naga on BBC Breakfast to discuss the updated definition. She questioned what it would achieve and if it would impact the level of extremism in the country. Naga asked: "What will you be doing more of to make sure the likes of Shakeel Begg who is the subject of a BBC report won’t be able to mask these actions? How do these new rules change that?"
Begg lost a libel action case against the BBC after he was described as espousing extremist Islamic views. The judge said he had been able to hide them behind a ‘coat of respectability.’ Gove replied: "Well it enables us to identify organisations with a greater degree of precision and…"
Naga interjected: "I’m sorry to interrupt but I don’t understand. You would investigate anyone anyway, wouldn’t you? You would look into the background of anyone, surely? So how do these new rules mean that you can investigate better?" He said: "We are also building up a centre of excellence in my department that will complement the work that’s being done by the Home Office and others to assess organisations against this criteria."
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Naga grilled Michael Gove during BBC Breakfast (BBC)Viewers at home hailed Naga for her interview technique as one said: "Naga, as usual, asking all the right questions which the weasel Gove ignores. He is a dreadful man." Another added: " Naga Munchetty asks Michael Gove how his new definition of extremism will enable govt to do things they can’t already do. Gove doesn’t seem able to say."
Someone else commented: "OMG Micheal Gove is truly repulsive. Have just watched him being interviewed by the very gorgeous Naga Munchetty. He is so full of [poo emoji] and makes my skin crawl." A fourth wrote: "Great watching Naga tie Gove in knots on #BBCBreakfast so, it seems that govt policy is that they won’t give money to racists, but quite happy to take it from them.
Under the new definitions, extremists will be classed as those who destroy the freedom of others, try to replace parliamentary democracy and intentionally create a 'permissive' environment for others to do this. The announcement has sparked fears of a clampdown on freedom of speech, which the Government denies.
Mr Gove, who is Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said: “The United Kingdom is a success story – a multi-national, multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy. It is stronger because of its diversity. But our democracy and our values of inclusivity and tolerance are under challenge from extremists."
He hit out at Islamist extremists who "are seeking to separate Muslims from the rest of society and create division within Muslim communities", as well as extreme right-wing groups. Gove said: "This is the first in a series of measures to tackle extremism and protect our democracy.
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