Darren Back

Andy Burnham has met Muslim community leaders in Downing Street and accused his political rivals of using “unacceptable” language when discussing Islam. This is not the first time senior Labour politicians have accused their political opponents of crossing the line when discussing Islam, its history and its practices. Labour MPs have repeatedly branded opposition politicians who criticise Islam “Islamophobic”. Earlier this year, 26 Labour MPs reported Reform UK to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) over its comments about Islam. Labour MPs also reported the Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary, Nick Timothy, to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and accused him of being “Islamophobic”. He even faced calls for his sacking from the then Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, after criticising a mass Muslim prayer event in Trafalgar Square. In a free country where blasphemy laws were abolished 18 years ago, politicians and private citizens must be free to criticise, question and debate any religion — including Islam. But that was not the only revelation to emerge from the Downing Street meeting. It has been reported that Angela Rayner told Muslim community leaders she was preparing to announce the appointment of an “anti-Muslim hostility” tsar. Given that Rayner appointed five individuals to the Working Group tasked with drafting the “anti-Muslim hostility” definition, all of whom had troubling links to Islamist organisations, and that her department falsely claimed to have deleted all responses to its consultation on the definition, who on earth will she appoint? Read more from FSU Campaigns Officer @MaxHThompson 👇