british yacht definition

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Yacht classification definitions

The merchant shipping sector is ruled by safety regulations developed since the beginning of the 20th century, and is familiar with international conventions such as SOLAS, MARPOL and Load Lines. But the application of common safety requirements to pleasure vessels is something relatively new – a continuous work in progress – and is very much dependant on the service and the flag of the yacht.

Defining the problems

Definitions do not help. How often have we read of large yachts, superyachts, megayachts, gigayachts or other bombastic adjectives? How many times have we mentioned MCA, RINA, and Lloyd’s, without having a clear idea of who’s doing what?

A good starting point for understanding the subject is to clarify the main definitions and the roles of the main players:

Large yacht

A large yacht is a pleasure vessel with a load line length equal to or over 24m. Almost all the flag administrations have adopted safety codes dedicated to large yachts and this is, therefore, the only definition having a universal meaning in the international regulatory framework of yachts.

Commercial yacht

A motor or sailing vessel in commercial use (i.e. charter) for sport and pleasure, carrying no cargo and not more than 12 passengers.

Private yacht

A pleasure vessel solely used for the recreational and leisure purpose of its owner and his guests.

Flag administration

The government of the state whose flag the yacht is entitled to fly . This administration sets the safety regulations, manning requirements and fiscal aspects relevant to the yacht registration.

Different flag administrations can inspect the safety aspects of yachts with their own inspectors (see MCA for example) or delegate this activity partially or totally to other recognised bodies such as the classification societies.

The main flag authorities in the yachting industry are: The UK-MCA, Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Italy and Luxembourg.

Classification societies

Organisations that establish and apply technical standards in relation to the design, construction and survey of ships.

Classification rules are developed to assess the structural strength and integrity of the essential parts of the hull, the reliability and function of the propulsion, steering systems, power generation and all the other features installed on board which contribute to guarantee the main essential services.

In addition to this ‘third party check’ function, class societies carry out statutory duties on behalf of the major flag administrations in accordance with specific delegation agreements signed with each government.

The main class societies involved in yachting are: American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, Det Norske Veritas, Germanischer Lloyd, Lloyd’s Register, and RINA.

Large yachts: Applicable rules and certificates

Private yachts

The mandatory requirements for these boats are very light. For the majority of flag states, a registration survey and a tonnage measurement, carried out by an authorised surveyor, are sufficient.

The only mandatory international conventions are those relevant to the marine environment: MARPOL and the Anti-Fouling System Convention.

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is intended to eliminate the intentional pollution and to minimise the accidental pollution of the marine environment caused by harmful substances.

The Anti-Fouling System Convention’s purpose is to eliminate the presence of harmful substances for the marine environment contained in anti-fouling paints applied to ships.

Classification

While classification is not mandatory, building and maintaining a private yacht in class is the only evidence that the boat has been designed, constructed and operated in compliance with appropriate technical standards. It is therefore highly desirable, especially in relation to insurance and re-sale purposes.

Commercial yachts

All flag administrations require commercial yachts to be certified in accordance with a specific large yacht safety code.

The most popular of these safety codes, and the first that was developed, is the MCA Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY2) published in 2004. It replaced the Code of Practice for the Safety of Large Commercial Sailing and Motor Vessels (LY1) published in 1997.

LY2 is applied by the Red Ensign Group Flags (UK, Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Bermuda, Gibraltar, British Virgin Islands, etc.) and is recognised as a reference standard for all the yachting industry.

Other flags have developed similar codes. Luxembourg, Italy, Marshall Islands, Malta, Belize and The Netherlands are some examples.

While introducing a stricter set of rules and regulations compared to private yachts, commercial registration offers yacht owners the possibility of making a profit from the chartering activity of their boats, and allows them to take advantage of all the other benefits of a commercial operation (in particular VAT exemption on the purchase, sale, bunkering, provisions, dry-docking, and others).

Mandatory certificates

The number and type of the mandatory certificates depends on the size of the vessel; the following is an indicative list:

• International Tonnage Certificate : A measurement of the internal volumes of the yacht expressed in gross tons (GT). This measurement should not be confused with displacement tonnage, which quantifies the weight of a vessel.
• Large Yacht Code Certificate : Covers life-saving appliances, fire protection and means of escape, navigational and signalling equipment, intact and damaged stability, manning and crew accommodation.
• Class Certificate : This mainly deals with the yacht’s hull, machinery, electrical equipment and outfitting.
• International Load Line Certificate : This certifies the weather-tightness of the yacht.
• Safety Radio Certificate : This is applicable if gross tonnage exceeds 300GT This concerns the radio communication and distress installations.
• MARPOL Annex I Certificate : This is applicable if gross tonnage exceeds 400GT This deals with the disposal of oil and bilge water from machinery spaces.
• MARPOL Annex IV Certificate : This is applicable if gross tonnage exceeds 400 or the yacht is certified to carry over 15 persons. This deals with the disposal of sewage from ships.
• MARPOL Annex V : This is applicable to all ships. It covers the disposal of rubbish.
• MARPOL Annex VI : This is applicable if gross tonnage exceeds 400GT as well as to all main and auxiliary engines with a power exceeding 130kW. It concerns the emissions from main and auxiliary engines (NOx and SOx).
• Safety Construction and Safety Equipment : These are additional prescriptions on machinery, electrical parts, life-saving and navigational equipment for yachts with a gross tonnage above 500GT.
• International Safety Management Certificate : This is only applicable to yachts having a gross tonnage greater than 500GT. A certified management company is requested to carry out this service, preparing operational manuals, procedures for drills, and taking care of the maintenance of the yacht and its installations.
• International Ship and Port Security Certificate : This is only applicable to yachts having a gross tonnage greater than 500GT and deals with the anti-piracy certification. A certified management company is requested to provide the ashore assistance and establish on-board procedures and operational manuals.

The GT Factor

The gross tonnage value (GT) is a key issue, not only as a reference for the registration fees applied by the different flag administrations, but also because it determines whether an international convention, rather than a particular safety standard, applies to a yacht.

The table below summarises how the conventions and relevant certificates come into force depending on the gross tonnage of the yacht. In particular, the following values may have a critical impact:

300GT: In many codes, when you reach this value the yacht must be certified in unrestricted service (stricter requirements regarding stability, load line and life-saving appliances).

400GT: This is the threshold for almost all the environmental conventions such as MARPOL and Anti-fouling System.

500GT: This is the threshold for the application of the SOLAS Convention, meaning stricter requirements on machinery, safety systems, materials of construction, fire protection, life-saving appliances and navigational equipment. Furthermore an external certified management company is requested for the ISM and ISPS certifications.

The tonnage issue could also arise on existing yachts when undertaking major refits or modifications, in that any change to the internal volumes of the boat – such as adding enclosed deckhouses or superstructures, or modifying the hull transom or bow – will modify the tonnage value with the risk of subjecting the yacht to stricter mandatory rules.

UPDATE: Since this article was originally published, LY2 has been superseded by Large Commercial Yacht Code Revision 3 (LY3) .

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Definition of yacht noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Etymology [ edit ]

Circa 1557; variant of yaught , earlier yeaghe ( “ light, fast-sailing ship ” ) , from Dutch jacht ( “ yacht; hunt ” ) , in older spelling jaght(e) , short for jaghtschip ( “ light sailing vessel, fast pirate ship ” , literally “ pursuit ship ” ) , compound of jacht and schip ( “ ship ” ) .

In the 16th century the Dutch built light, fast ships to chase the ships of pirates and smugglers from the coast. The ship was introduced to England in 1660 when the Dutch East India Company presented one to King Charles II, who used it as a pleasure boat, after which it was copied by British shipbuilders as a pleasure craft for wealthy gentlemen.

Pronunciation [ edit ]

• ( UK ) enPR : yŏt , IPA ( key ) : /jɒt/
• ( US ) enPR : yät , IPA ( key ) : /jɑːt/ , /jɑt/
• Rhymes: -ɒt

Noun [ edit ]

yacht ( plural yachts )

• 1897 December (indicated as 1898 ), Winston Churchill , chapter X, in The Celebrity: An Episode , New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company ; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd. , →OCLC : The skipper Mr. Cooke had hired at Far Harbor was a God-fearing man with a luke warm interest in his new billet and employer, and had only been prevailed upon to take charge of the yacht after the offer of an emolument equal to half a year's sea pay of an ensign in the navy.
• 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers , chapter VI, in The Younger Set , New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company , →OCLC : “I don’t mean all of your friends—only a small proportion—which, however, connects your circle with that deadly, idle, brainless bunch—the insolent chatterers at the opera,   [ … ] , the chlorotic squatters on huge yachts ,   [ … ] , the neurotic victims of mental cirrhosis, the jewelled animals whose moral code is the code of the barnyard—!"

Derived terms [ edit ]

• motor yacht , motoryacht , MY
• sailing yacht , steam yacht , SY
• yacht person

Translations [ edit ]

Verb [ edit ].

yacht ( third-person singular simple present yachts , present participle yachting , simple past and past participle yachted )

• ( intransitive ) To sail , voyage , or race in a yacht .

Anagrams [ edit ]

• Cathy , tachy , tachy- , yatch

French [ edit ]

Borrowed from English yacht , from Dutch jacht .

• IPA ( key ) : /jɔt/ , /jot/ , ( Canada ) /jat/

yacht   m ( plural yachts )

Further reading [ edit ]

• “ yacht ”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [ Digitized Treasury of the French Language ] , 2012.

Italian [ edit ]

Unadapted borrowing from English yacht .

• IPA ( key ) : /ˈjɔt/ [1]
• Rhymes: -ɔt

yacht   m ( invariable )

• the letter Y in the Italian spelling alphabet

References [ edit ]

• ^ yacht in Luciano Canepari , Dizionario di Pronuncia Italiana (DiPI)
• yacht in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line , Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana

Norman [ edit ]

Borrowed from English yacht .

yacht   ? ( plural yachts )

• ( Jersey ) yacht

Norwegian Bokmål [ edit ]

From Dutch jacht , via English yacht .

yacht   m ( definite singular yachten , indefinite plural yachter , definite plural yachtene )

• “yacht” in The Bokmål Dictionary .

Norwegian Nynorsk [ edit ]

yacht   m ( definite singular yachten , indefinite plural yachtar , definite plural yachtane )

• “yacht” in The Nynorsk Dictionary .

Swedish [ edit ]

Alternative forms [ edit ].

yacht   c

Declension [ edit ]

• yacht in Svenska Akademiens ordlista ( SAOL )
• yacht in Svensk ordbok ( SO )
• yacht in Svenska Akademiens ordbok ( SAOB )

• English terms derived from Dutch
• English 1-syllable words
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• Rhymes:English/ɒt
• Rhymes:English/ɒt/1 syllable
• English lemmas
• English nouns
• English countable nouns
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• English intransitive verbs
• en:Watercraft
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• French terms with IPA pronunciation
• French terms with audio links
• French lemmas
• French nouns
• French countable nouns
• French masculine nouns
• fr:Watercraft
• French loanwords with irregular pronunciations
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• Italian 1-syllable words
• Italian terms with IPA pronunciation
• Rhymes:Italian/ɔt
• Rhymes:Italian/ɔt/1 syllable
• Italian lemmas
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• Italian indeclinable nouns
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• nrf:Watercraft
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• Norwegian Bokmål terms spelled with C
• Norwegian Bokmål masculine nouns
• nb:Watercraft
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• Norwegian Nynorsk terms spelled with C
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• nn:Watercraft
• Swedish terms borrowed from English
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• Swedish lemmas
• Swedish nouns
• Swedish common-gender nouns
• sv:Watercraft
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a vessel used for private cruising, racing, or other noncommercial purposes.

to sail, voyage, or race in a yacht.

Compare Meanings

Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.

Origin of yacht

Other words from yacht.

• yachty, adjective
• su·per·yacht, noun

Words that may be confused with yacht

• barge , boat , canoe , cruise ship , sailboat , ship , yacht

Words Nearby yacht

• Yablonovy Mountains
• Yablonovyy Range
• yacht chair

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use yacht in a sentence

As City News explained it, the bribes were paid not only in cash but through rugs, antiques, furniture, yacht club fees, boat repairs and more.

In Ashburn, Snyder is always lurking in spirit, even if he is on his 305-foot yacht somewhere in the Aegean.

Driving across country in a gigantic land yacht —with its crushed-velour seats and faux wood siding—was more practical than a two-door hot rod.

Host Jason Moore chats with experts who share tips harvested from their real-life experiences, such as a couple who paid off their $70,000 debt to travel full time and a woman who left her corporate job to work on a yacht .

Until Thursday, when federal agents escorted him off a 150-foot yacht moored in Long Island Sound, the word often used to describe Steve Bannon was “irrelevant.”

Instead the money allegedly was spent on luxury cars and a yacht club membership, among other things.

Loeb owns a $100 million penthouse on Central Park West and a $50 million yacht .

Solaire has set up charging capabilities at a project it built at a yacht club in Massachusetts, for example.

On my way back into town, I walked by the fortress of tents surrounding the harbor, readying for the yacht show.

Newly-minted Londoner, Lindsay Lohan, is currently chilling out on a yacht in Italy.

I heard her say to one of the servants once that my father had been lost on a yacht , and that he was oh, ever such a handsome man.

He owned a 54-ton yacht named the Opal, and attributed the wonderful health he enjoyed to his numerous sea voyages.

Another yacht had started from the old boathouse at about the time our friends and their new-fangled craft got under way.

Caermarthen ordered out his wonderful yacht , and hastened to complain to the King, who was then at Loo.

The yacht had long turned the head of the island and was beating down alongshore in the eastern bay.

British Dictionary definitions for yacht

/ ( jɒt ) /

a vessel propelled by sail or power, used esp for pleasure cruising, racing, etc

short for sand yacht , ice yacht

(intr) to sail or cruise in a yacht

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Definition of yacht

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of yacht  (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

Examples of yacht in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yacht.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

obsolete Dutch jaght , from Middle Low German jacht , short for jachtschip , literally, hunting ship

1557, in the meaning defined above

1836, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing yacht

Articles related to yacht.

Why does English have so many silent...

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Inexplicable silent letters, explained

Words of the Week - March 4

The words that defined the week ending March 4th, 2022

Dictionary Entries Near yacht

yacht chair

Cite this Entry

“Yacht.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yacht. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of yacht.

Kids Definition of yacht  (Entry 2 of 2)

from obsolete Dutch jaght (now jacht ), short for jachtschip, literally, "hunting ship"

More from Merriam-Webster on yacht

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for yacht

Nglish: Translation of yacht for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of yacht for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about yacht

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Definition of 'yacht'

Image of yacht

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yacht in American English

Yacht in british english, examples of 'yacht' in a sentence yacht, trends of yacht.

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Politics latest: Chancellor appears to let slip when election could be

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has nodded to when the election could finally be held. It comes after a former minister warned Tory plotters against ousting Rishi Sunak before the vote, as his mooted replacement - Penny Mordaunt - gave short shrift to suggestions she could become prime minister.

Tuesday 19 March 2024 17:51, UK

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• Coming up on Politics Hub at 7pm
• Chancellor hints at October election  | The dates PM could pick
• Drakeford gives emotional resignation statement
• Mooted Sunak rival responds to leadership rumours
• Ed Conway: Why Labour's struggling to set itself apart on economy
• Follow Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge on WhatsApp
• Listen to Politics At Jack And Sam's  wherever you get your podcasts
• Live reporting by Tim Baker and (earlier)  Faith Ridler

Earlier this afternoon, Jeremy Hunt suggested to a House of Lords committee the general election could be in October ( see 15.24 post ).

Referring to the need for a government spending review by April 2025, the chancellor said: "And of course, if the general election is in October, that will mean it's very, very tight."

Cabinet ministers have been reluctant to get quite so specific until now, only offering the "working assumption" that it'll be in the autumn, while Rishi Sunak has ruled out holding it with the local elections on 2 May.

"This is the game all MPs are playing at the moment," says our chief political correspondent Jon Craig . 

"Guess the date of the general election."

Is Mr Hunt "playing a little game with us", Jon asks, "or has he let slip the preferred date of a general election?"

If so, what dates in October could the government pick?

By convention, general elections happen on a Thursday.

Running through those dates, Jon says: "Not going to have it on October the 31st - that's a Thursday, but Halloween!

"Can you imagine an election on that date? No, forget that."

The headlines could write themselves, it's fair to say.

Jon continues: "The 24th, the previous Thursday - well, there is the Commonwealth heads of government conference.

"That's in Samoa from the 21st to the 25th.

"King Charles would be attending, and whoever is prime minister, whether Mr Sunak or Sir Keir Starmer, they would be attending as well."

That rules that one out too, then.

If it's October, Jon reckons the 17th is the preferred date.

"Mr Hunt, talking about how timetables are tight and so on - it probably would not be an any earlier than that," he says.

However, it should be noted it's technically possible for an election to be held on 10 October, if the PM calls an election right after MPs return from summer recess at the start of September. 

Jon notes poor local election results in May could see Tories move against the PM even sooner, which may force an election earlier, but the government is "obviously" working towards the second half of the year.

We've been reporting this afternoon on the chancellor's appearance at a House of Lords committee, where he appeared to suggest the general election will happen in October.

Ministers have been coy on specifics until now, only going as far to say that autumn is likely.

Since Jeremy Hunt's comment earlier, we've been narrowing down the potential dates we could finally go to the polls (see pinned post).

You can watch the moment he seemed to let the likely month slip below:

The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our Data and Forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about different political parties.

Labour is still sitting comfortably on a roughly 21-point lead, averaging at 44.1% in the polls, with the Tories on 23.1%.

In third is Reform UK on 11.3%, followed by the Lib Dems on 9.8%.

The Green Party stands at 5.8%, and the SNP on 2.9%.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the tracker  here .

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to give a speech on the economy this evening, but already some from the left are criticising her.

Sharon Graham, the general secretary of the Unite union, says "it's time Labour came up with a plan for the real economy rather than the big business lobby".

According to Sky's Westminster Accounts tool , Unite has given close to £11m to Labour since 2019.

Ms Reeves will be speaking in an hour or so.

Ms Graham adds: "Labour needs to be focused on delivering good jobs, public services and dignity in retirement, not more rhetoric about abstract economic concepts, like GDP growth.

"If you stick to phoney fiscal rules, rule out taxing the wealthy and pander to the profiteers, you end up in a straightjacket of your own making.

"Ripping up building regulations and meddling in the public sector are not going to deliver serious growth – that's for the birds. Only sustained long term public investment in our crumbling infrastructure can turn the tide on decline."

Our  economics and data editor Ed Conway spoke to Ms Reeves earlier, and his takeaway was that she doesn't sound dissimilar to the economic pitch being made by Rishi Sunak and the Tories.

Read what she had to say below…

As well as hinting at a general election date, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt used his appearance at the House of Lords Economics Affairs Committee to talk about defence spending.

During the budget two weeks ago, Mr Hunt would not say when defence outlay would return to the 2.5% target - and has since faced calls from Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to raise spending to 3%.

Mr Hunt tells the Lords that defence spending will need to rise - saying the "world around us" is becoming more dangerous.

He will not commit to the 3% figure, nor will he give a timescale.

The chancellor adds there is "absolutely no doubt" spending needs to go up - but procurement needs to be looked at to make sure projects serve the purpose needed.

He also notes that circumstances are changing, such as the war in Ukraine raging on - and potentially lasting much longer.

Mr Hunt makes an interesting comment there could be "further change" in the situation there with the US presidential election later this year.

Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants to cut funding to Ukraine and end the war.

A little earlier, we brought you live coverage of Mark Drakeford's final Welsh parliament address as first minister ( see 15.52 post ).

He'll be formally handing in his resignation to the King later.

So, how will he be remembered after five years in office?

Our West of England and Wales correspondent Dan Whitehead   says the pandemic will be "absolutely central" to how many people across the country remember him.

He says the 20mph default speed limit he introduced will also be something many people remember "as his legacy".

It's been "so controversial" for much of the population, Dan says, with a petition calling for it to be overturned.

Mr Drakeford has stood by the scheme, insisting people will eventually understand it's the right way forward.

In his resignation speech earlier, he said his "radical, reforming government" has been committed to doing "the things that are difficult today" to benefit future generations.

For a fuller look back on his career, read this from our chief political correspondent Jon Craig :

Our flagship weeknight politics show will be live on Sky News from 7pm, this time presented by our political editor Beth Rigby .

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing the audience into the corridors of power.

Beth will be joined by Tory MP Stuart Andrew from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, after the government introduced long-awaited legislation to create a football regulator ( read more ).

Also on the show is Labour shadow minister Nick Thomas-Symonds .

On Beth's panel tonight are:

• Jess Phillips , Labour MP and Beth's Electoral Dysfunction co-host;
• Jonathan Gullis , Tory MP for Stoke-on-Trent North.

Watch Politics Hub from Monday to Thursday at 7pm on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on the  Sky News website  and  app  or on  YouTube .

Today is Mark Drakeford's last day as first minister of Wales.

He's handing the reins over to Vaughan Gething, but before he goes has delivered his official resignation statement to the Senedd.

Here are the main points:

• Having already carried out First Minister's Questions in the Welsh parliament today, he jokes colleagues will be "looking forward to hearing quite a bit less from me" after his resignation speech;
• He recalls how his first speech in the Senedd as first minister came just before Christmas 2018, starting a period of "perma-crisis" that included the prospect of a no-deal Brexit and the COVID pandemic;
• Mr Drakeford also refers to the instability at Westminster, noting that he's worked with four prime ministers in his five-year tenure;
• He says his "radical, reforming government" has been committed to doing "the things that are difficult today" to benefit future generations;
• Among such decisions he cites was the scrapping of plans for a new M4 relief road and he has of course also introduced a 20mph speed limit;
• "The last 12 months have been the hardest and the saddest of my life," the outgoing first minister adds through tears - it followed the death of his wife, Clare, in January 2023;
• He offers thanks to colleagues and the people of Wales, referring to the "thousands of encounters" he's enjoyed over the last five years;
• "I am most grateful of all to the people we are lucky enough to serve," he adds, prompting warm applause from the rest of the chamber.

By Rob Harris , sports correspondent

The Football Association (FA) should consider banning transgender women from playing women's football to remove any "unfair" competitive advantage, the culture secretary has told Sky News.

The policy has been under review by the FA, which is trying to balance out the sport being inclusive but also fair and safe.

Players over the age of 16 assigned male at birth who want to compete in women's football have to show their blood testosterone levels are "within natal female range for an appropriate length of time so as to minimise any potential advantage".

Annual checks are required.

But Lucy Frazer told Sky News: "I think it's very important women are able to compete against women, and there's an inherent unfairness that if you're not biologically a woman, you have a competitive advantage.

"I think a number of sports have looked at this very carefully and come to the decision it's not appropriate to have women competing against people who are not biologically women.

"We've seen that in rowing. We've seen that in swimming. And I would encourage other sporting bodies to look at that very carefully."

The FA's current transgender policy is that "gender identity should not be a barrier to participation in football", but eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Ms Frazer was discussing the transgender policy in light of issues the government's proposed football regulator could be asked to intervene on should the change to football governance pass through parliament.

Read more on that below:

 Jeremy Hunt, who delivered his budget a fortnight ago, is giving evidence to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee.

At one point the chancellor is asked about the spending review - the detailed plan for how the government is going to spend the money it has raised.

As part of his answer, he gives a nod to when the general election could be.

"This particular spending review has to be complete before next April, when the next financial year starts," he tells the peers.

"And of course, if the general election is in October, that will mean it's very, very tight."

He says this is why the government is thinking hard about productivity, which is the "most important part" of the review.

Why is a spending review significant?

The spending review is significant because, as the government is approaching an election, it has repeatedly cut national insurance and is looking to reduce tax to boost support among voters.

But without a spending review and with inflation having been high, it is hard to judge how the budgets for public services will be impacted on a day-to-day basis.

Last week, the prime minister ruled out a general election to coincide with local elections on 2 May, and it is thought holding one in October would make sense as it would allow another fiscal event to take place with more tax reductions.

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The British government wants to define extremism. Critics say it risks creating more division

Britain's Prime Minster Rishi Sunak departs 10 Downing Street to go to the House of Commons for his weekly Prime Minister's Questions in London, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Credit: AP/Alberto Pezzali

LONDON — The British government published a new official definition of “extremism” on Thursday, and said groups that get the label will be barred from receiving government funding.

The move is in response to a surge in reports of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate speech and what authorities call an increase in radicalization in Britain since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which triggered the war and Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

But critics say branding nonviolent groups as extremist could undermine freedom of speech and worship, or risk unfairly targeting some people, such as Muslims, and create more division.

The government defined extremism as “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance” that aims to destroy others’ rights and freedoms or “undermine, overturn or replace the U.K.'s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights.”

Communities Secretary Michael Gove pointed in particular to threats from the extreme right and Islamic “extremists who are seeking to separate Muslims from the rest of society and create division within Muslim communities.”

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“We are in no way intending to restrict freedom of expression, religion or belief, but the government cannot be in a position where, unwittingly or not, we sponsor, subsidize or support in any way organisations or individuals opposed to the freedoms we hold dear," Gove told lawmakers.

Groups that raise concerns under the new definition include the British National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi organization, and the Muslim Association of Britain, the U.K. affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, Gove said.

Britain's Minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, leaves the Millbank Studios in central London after taking part in the morning interview rounds, Thursday March 14, 2024. The British government published an official definition of “extremism” on Thursday, and said groups that get the label will be barred from receiving government funding. The government did not provide examples of extremist groups, and is not expected to publish a list of such organizations for some weeks. But Gove pointed to the threat from the extreme right and Islamic "extremists who are seeking to separate Muslims from the rest of society and create division within Muslim communities.” Credit: AP/Jordan Pettitt

Authorities are expected to publish a list of such organizations in coming weeks. The new guidelines will not criminalize or ban the groups.

Islamic and civil liberties groups said they worried the definition would be used disproportionately on Muslims.

Qari Asim, chairman of the Mosques and Imams Advisory Board, said the proposed definition may not be applied consistently.

“If it’s left to people to apply any definition of extremism and call anyone extremist at their whim, then that is going to create huge division in our society,” he told the BBC.

Protesters hold up flags and placards during a demonstration in support of Palestinian people in Gaza, in London, on Feb. 17, 2024. The British government published an official definition of “extremism” on Thursday, March 14, 2024 and said groups that get the label will be barred from receiving government funding. Mass pro-Palestinian protests have drawn hundreds of thousands of people to central London to call for a cease-fire. The protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful, though there have been dozens of arrests over signs and chants that police say showed support for the militant Hamas group, a banned organization in Britain. Credit: AP/Alberto Pezzali

The Muslim Council of Britain warned that the proposals were “undemocratic, divisive, and potentially illegal” and “may involve defining established Muslim organizations as extremist."

“With elections looming, it’s unsurprising that the government is resorting to this desperate tactic in the culture war," said Zara Mohammed, the group’s secretary general.

The Church of England’s most senior clerics also criticized the government's plans, warning that the new definition of extremism threatens the right to worship and peaceful protest.

The announcement comes two weeks after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a rare televised speech outside 10 Downing Street to denounce “a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality,” which he linked to the Israel-Hamas war.

Reports of both antisemitic and anti-Muslim abuse in Britain have surged since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which triggered the war and Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Mass pro-Palestinian protests have drawn hundreds of thousands of people to central London to call for a cease-fire. The protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful, though there have been dozens of arrests over signs and chants that police say showed support for the militant Hamas group, a banned organization in Britain. Police also arrested some right-wing counter-protesters and charged them with inciting racial hatred.

Jewish organizations and many lawmakers say the mass marches have created an intimidating atmosphere for Jewish Londoners, though members of the Jewish community have been among those on pro-cease-fire marches.

Gove said the new definition isn't aimed at stopping protests.

“Today’s definition applies only to government and makes it clear that we will keep these organizations at arm’s length so they can’t benefit from access to government and its funds,” he said.

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The British government wants to define extremism. Critics say it risks creating more division

Britain’s Prime Minster Rishi Sunak departs 10 Downing Street to go to the House of Commons for his weekly Prime Minister’s Questions in London, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Britain’s Minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, leaves the Millbank Studios in central London after taking part in the morning interview rounds, Thursday March 14, 2024. The British government published an official definition of “extremism” on Thursday, and said groups that get the label will be barred from receiving government funding. The government did not provide examples of extremist groups, and is not expected to publish a list of such organizations for some weeks. But Gove pointed to the threat from the extreme right and Islamic “extremists who are seeking to separate Muslims from the rest of society and create division within Muslim communities.” (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)

FILE - Protesters hold up flags and placards during a demonstration in support of Palestinian people in Gaza, in London, on Feb. 17, 2024. The British government published an official definition of “extremism” on Thursday, March 14, 2024 and said groups that get the label will be barred from receiving government funding. Mass pro-Palestinian protests have drawn hundreds of thousands of people to central London to call for a cease-fire. The protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful, though there have been dozens of arrests over signs and chants that police say showed support for the militant Hamas group, a banned organization in Britain. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)

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LONDON (AP) — The British government published a new official definition of “extremism” on Thursday, and said groups that get the label will be barred from receiving government funding.

The move is in response to a surge in reports of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate speech and what authorities call an increase in radicalization in Britain since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which triggered the war and Israel’s invasion of Gaza .

But critics say branding nonviolent groups as extremist could undermine freedom of speech and worship, or risk unfairly targeting some people, such as Muslims, and create more division.

The government defined extremism as “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance” that aims to destroy others’ rights and freedoms or “undermine, overturn or replace the U.K.'s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights.”

Communities Secretary Michael Gove pointed in particular to threats from the extreme right and Islamic “extremists who are seeking to separate Muslims from the rest of society and create division within Muslim communities.”

“We are in no way intending to restrict freedom of expression, religion or belief, but the government cannot be in a position where, unwittingly or not, we sponsor, subsidize or support in any way organisations or individuals opposed to the freedoms we hold dear,” Gove told lawmakers.

Groups that raise concerns under the new definition include the British National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi organization, and the Muslim Association of Britain, the U.K. affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, Gove said.

Authorities are expected to publish a list of such organizations in coming weeks. The new guidelines will not criminalize or ban the groups.

Islamic and civil liberties groups said they worried the definition would be used disproportionately on Muslims.

Qari Asim, chairman of the Mosques and Imams Advisory Board, said the proposed definition may not be applied consistently.

“If it’s left to people to apply any definition of extremism and call anyone extremist at their whim, then that is going to create huge division in our society,” he told the BBC.

The Muslim Council of Britain warned that the proposals were “undemocratic, divisive, and potentially illegal” and “may involve defining established Muslim organizations as extremist.”

“With elections looming, it’s unsurprising that the government is resorting to this desperate tactic in the culture war,” said Zara Mohammed, the group’s secretary general.

The Church of England’s most senior clerics also criticized the government’s plans, warning that the new definition of extremism threatens the right to worship and peaceful protest.

The announcement comes two weeks after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a rare televised speech outside 10 Downing Street to denounce “a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality,” which he linked to the Israel-Hamas war.

Reports of both antisemitic and anti-Muslim abuse in Britain have surged since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which triggered the war and Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Mass pro-Palestinian protests have drawn hundreds of thousands of people to central London to call for a cease-fire. The protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful, though there have been dozens of arrests over signs and chants that police say showed support for the militant Hamas group, a banned organization in Britain. Police also arrested some right-wing counter-protesters and charged them with inciting racial hatred.

Jewish organizations and many lawmakers say the mass marches have created an intimidating atmosphere for Jewish Londoners, though members of the Jewish community have been among those on pro-cease-fire marches.

Gove said the new definition isn’t aimed at stopping protests.

“Today’s definition applies only to government and makes it clear that we will keep these organizations at arm’s length so they can’t benefit from access to government and its funds,” he said.

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The British government wants to define extremism. Critics say it risks creating more division

LONDON — The British government published a new official definition of “extremism” on Thursday, and said groups that get the label will be barred from receiving government funding.

The move is in response to a surge in reports of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate speech and what authorities call an increase in radicalization in Britain since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which triggered the war and Israel’s invasion of Gaza .

But critics say branding nonviolent groups as extremist could undermine freedom of speech and worship, or risk unfairly targeting some people, such as Muslims, and create more division.

The government defined extremism as “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance” that aims to destroy others’ rights and freedoms or “undermine, overturn or replace the U.K.’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights.”

Communities Secretary Michael Gove pointed in particular to threats from the extreme right and Islamic “extremists who are seeking to separate Muslims from the rest of society and create division within Muslim communities.”

“We are in no way intending to restrict freedom of expression, religion or belief, but the government cannot be in a position where, unwittingly or not, we sponsor, subsidize or support in any way organisations or individuals opposed to the freedoms we hold dear,” Gove told lawmakers.

Groups that raise concerns under the new definition include the British National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi organization, and the Muslim Association of Britain, the U.K. affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, Gove said.

Authorities are expected to publish a list of such organizations in coming weeks. The new guidelines will not criminalize or ban the groups.

Islamic and civil liberties groups said they worried the definition would be used disproportionately on Muslims.

Qari Asim, chairman of the Mosques and Imams Advisory Board, said the proposed definition may not be applied consistently.

“If it’s left to people to apply any definition of extremism and call anyone extremist at their whim, then that is going to create huge division in our society,” he told the BBC.

The Muslim Council of Britain warned that the proposals were “undemocratic, divisive, and potentially illegal” and “may involve defining established Muslim organizations as extremist.”

“With elections looming, it’s unsurprising that the government is resorting to this desperate tactic in the culture war,” said Zara Mohammed, the group’s secretary general.

The Church of England’s most senior clerics also criticized the government’s plans, warning that the new definition of extremism threatens the right to worship and peaceful protest.

The announcement comes two weeks after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a rare televised speech outside 10 Downing Street to denounce “a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality,” which he linked to the Israel-Hamas war .

Reports of both antisemitic and anti-Muslim abuse in Britain have surged since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which triggered the war and Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Mass pro-Palestinian protests have drawn hundreds of thousands of people to central London to call for a cease-fire. The protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful, though there have been dozens of arrests over signs and chants that police say showed support for the militant Hamas group, a banned organization in Britain. Police also arrested some right-wing counter-protesters and charged them with inciting racial hatred.

Jewish organizations and many lawmakers say the mass marches have created an intimidating atmosphere for Jewish Londoners, though members of the Jewish community have been among those on pro-cease-fire marches.

Gove said the new definition isn’t aimed at stopping protests.

“Today’s definition applies only to government and makes it clear that we will keep these organizations at arm’s length so they can’t benefit from access to government and its funds,” he said.

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Gove faces legal action threats after suggesting Muslim groups are extremist

Community secretary’s new definition of extremism attracts criticism in parliament, including from Tory former minister

Michael Gove is facing threats of legal action after naming Muslim organisations that could fall foul of a new definition of extremism.

Amid free speech fears among Conservatives, the communities secretary told MPs that the advocacy groups Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), Mend and Cage were organisations with “Islamist orientation and beliefs” that could be included on a list of groups banned from access to public money, ministers and civil servants.

In response, the MAB and Mend have challenged Gove to repeat the allegations without parliamentary privilege so they can sue.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), the UK’s biggest Muslim organisation, has consulted lawyers in anticipation of seeking a judicial review if banned from Whitehall and Westminster.

Gove also named the British National Socialist Movement and Patriotic Alternative as groups that promoted neo-Nazi ideology that would also be examined.

Gove told MPs: “Organisations such as the Muslim Association of Britain, which is the British affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, and other groups such as Cage and Mend give rise to concern for their Islamist orientation and beliefs. We will be holding these and other organisations to account to assess if they meet our definition of extremism, and will take action as appropriate.

“I am sure that we would agree that organisations such as the British National Socialist Movement and Patriotic Alternative, who promote neo-Nazi ideology, argue for forced repatriation, a white ethnostate and the targeting of minority groups for intimidation, are precisely the type of groups about which we should be concerned and whose activities we will assess against the new definition.”

In response, the MAB chair, Raghad Altikriti, said: “If Gove is confident in his views about the Muslim Association of Britain and other organisations, alleging extremist views and a threat to UK society, we challenge him to state them outside parliament.”

Zara Mohammed, the secretary general at the MCB, said she had consulted lawyers over a possible challenge if her group was named, and was “open to considering a group challenge” with others.

Gove was unveiling the government’s new definition of extremism on Thursday. One minister told the Guardian that deep concern about Gove’s plans extended across the government and the Tory backbenches.

“You can’t define extremism in a bubble,” they said. “You need to have the collaboration, and the legal advice to do so, and yet he has got people that deal with extremism, antisemitism, and everyone else in between asking how are you going to conduct this work.

“Why is a list needed? How is it going to be transparent and fair? If we have been in power for more than a decade, surely it would be possible to work through the levers of government in order to deal with concerns about any groups. Giving a minister the ability to blacklist an organisation isn’t reasonable or conservative.”

The former Home Office minister Robert Jenrick told the Commons: “I fear that the definition, though well-intentioned, lands in no man’s land: not going far enough to tackle the real extremists, not doing enough to protect the non-extremists, those people who are simply expressing contrarian views who might find this definition used against them, not perhaps now, but possibly in the future.”

The new definition, which will be distributed across government and Whitehall, will say: “Extremism is the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to: 1) negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or 2) undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or 3) intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in 1) or 2).”

The previous guidelines, published in 2011, said individuals or groups were defined as extremist if they showed “vocal or active opposition to British fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs”.

Waleed Sheikh, a partner at the law firm Leigh Day who specialises in judicial reviews, said the definition was open to a challenge because it was “extremely broad”.

“This definition will undoubtedly have a chilling effect on free speech. Such a broad definition, plainly open to abuse and without an accompanying independent appeals process, would appear ripe for judicial review,” he said.

Government sources said groups that would in effect be cancelled by ministers for falling foul of the new definition would be named in the coming weeks.

There will be no appeals process if a group is labelled as extremist, it is understood, and groups will instead be expected to challenge a ministerial decision in the courts.

The moves follow a sixfold increase in antisemitic incidents and a fourfold jump in anti-Muslim hatred in the UK since Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October.

• Michael Gove
• Counter-terrorism policy
• Conservatives

More on this story

Michael Gove on extremism: the imperturbable in pursuit of the indefinable

How has UK extremism definition changed and why is it attracting criticism?

From left to far right, which groups could end up on the UK extremism list?

Michael Gove sets out new extremism definition for UK – video

‘We’re a political punchbag’: Muslim Council chief baffled by MoD move to cut ties

UK ministers and officials to be banned from contact with groups labelled extremist

‘Restless, angry’ voters vulnerable to far-right extremism, warns Hope Not Hate

Extending extremism definition risks fuelling unlawful protest, warns Greenpeace UK

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Government strengthens approach to counter extremism

Definition of extremism updated to respond to increased extremist threat since October 7 terror attacks in Israel.

• Definition of extremism updated to respond to increased extremist threat since October 7 terror attacks in Israel
• New engagement principles published to ensure government does not legitimise extremist groups 
• Follows Prime Minister’s commitment to stamp out extremism to ensure we keep our citizens safe and our country secure                 

An updated, more focused definition designed to help tackle the ever-evolving threat of extremism in the UK has been published by the government today (14 March 2024).

The updated and more precise definition of extremism will be used by government departments and officials alongside a set of engagement principles , to ensure they are not inadvertently providing a platform, funding or legitimacy to groups or individuals who attempt to advance extremist ideologies that negate our fundamental rights and freedoms and overturn the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy. This definition is not statutory and has no effect on the existing criminal law – it applies to the operations of government itself.

Since the 7 October Hamas terror attacks in Israel concerns have been raised about the wide-ranging risk of radicalisation. On hate crime, since 7 October the Community Security Trust recorded 4,103 antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2023, an increase of 147% compared to 2022, and Tell MAMA recorded a 335% increase in anti-Muslim hate cases in the last four months. 

As the Prime Minister said recently, this kind of behaviour and intimidation is unacceptable, does not reflect the values of the United Kingdom and must be resisted at all times.

The new definition and engagement principles will make sure those who promote extreme ideologies or spread hate in their communities are not legitimised through their interactions with government. Following publication, the government will undertake a robust process to assess groups for extremism against the definition, which will then inform decisions around government engagement and funding.

It is the first in a series of steps to promote social cohesion, democratic resilience, and to counter extremism and religious hatred. 

Michael Gove, 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. In order to protect our democratic values, it is important both to reinforce what we have in common and to be clear and precise in identifying the dangers posed by extremism.  The pervasiveness of extremist ideologies has become increasingly clear in the aftermath of the 7 October attacks and poses a real risk to the security of our citizens and our democracy. This is the work of Extreme Right-Wing and Islamist extremists who are seeking to separate Muslims from the rest of society and create division within Muslim communities. They seek to radicalise individuals, deny people their full rights, suppress freedom of expression, incite hatred, and undermine our democratic institutions. Today’s measures will ensure that government does not inadvertently provide a platform to those setting out to subvert democracy and deny other people’s fundamental rights. This is the first in a series of measures to tackle extremism and protect our democracy.

The new definition provides a stricter characterisation that government can use to make sure that extremist organisations and individuals are not being legitimised or given a platform through their interactions with government. It reads: 

Extremism is the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to: 

• negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or
• undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or
• intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2).

The new definition is narrower and more precise than the 2011 Prevent definition, which did not provide the detail we now need to assess and identify extremism. This new definition helps clearly articulate how extremism is evidenced through the public behaviour of extremists that advance their violent, hateful or intolerant aims.

It draws on the work of Dame Sara Khan and Sir Mark Rowley’s 2021 Operating with Impunity Report and addresses key recommendations from the 2023 Independent Review of Prevent .

The definition is clear that extremism involves advancing or promoting an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, a high bar that only captures the most concerning of activities. It is not about silencing those with private and peaceful beliefs – nor will it affect free speech, which will always be protected.

It does not create new powers, it instead helps the government and our partners better to identify extremist organisations, individuals and behaviours. 

Alongside the new definition, the government is also publishing a set of engagement principles which are designed to help officials to engage more widely whilst mitigating the risk of undertaking engagement that undermines government’s core aims to:

• maintain public confidence in government
• uphold democratic values
• protect the rights and freedoms of others

UK Ministerial departments will be expected to consider the engagement standards when deciding whether to move forward with engagement with groups that meet the new definition. This will ensure the government does not meet, fund or provide a platform to extremist groups or individuals. It will also apply to the honours system and due diligence for public appointments. Non-central government institutions, such as arms-length bodies, higher education institutions and independent organisations including the police and CPS, will not be obliged to adopt the definition or apply the engagement principles initially.

To ensure that government has the tools it needs to effectively counter extremism, a new counter-extremism centre of excellence has been established in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. This unit will provide leadership for the cross-government counter-extremism community, ensure consistent application of the definition and engagement standards, and take the lead on producing strategic assessments of extremism.

This team will draw on the expertise of the Commission for Countering Extremism as well as counter extremism policy fellows – some of the country’s foremost counter-extremism experts – will join the centre of excellence to ensure the very best academic insight is shaping our approach.  

Lord Walney, Independent Adviser on Political Violence and Disruption, said: 

The threat to Britain from extremists includes those who may not use violence directly yet target our core values, so it is welcome that this updated definition includes those who seek to undermine or replace liberal democracy.  Greater clarity in defining extremism can underpin a concerted approach across civil society to protect our country.

Professor Ian Acheson, Senior Advisor, Counter Extremism Project said: 

These are necessary next steps to confront and deter those who advocate for violent extremism. Hateful anti-British ideas that undermine our democracy creating intimidation and fear need ideologues to drive them. It is intolerable that the state underwrites people and organisations poisoning community life in one of the most successful multi-ethnic countries in the world.

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