Rishi Sunak advised to launch probe into ‘structual Islamophobia’ within the Tory ranks
Britain’s largest Muslim physique referred to as on Rishi Sunak to launch an investigation into “structural Islamophobia” within the Tories’ ranks.
The Muslim Council of Britain additionally accused the Prime Minister and his Cabinet of remaining “silent” over Lee Anderson’s “racist” remarks. The former Deputy Chairman of the Conservatives was stripped of the Tory whip over the weekend after he refused to apologise for suggesting the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was managed by “Islamists”.
In a letter to the Tory chairman Richard Holden, the Muslim Council of Britain mentioned it welcomed Mr Anderson’s suspension.
But Secretary General Zara Mohammed mentioned: “Our view is that the Islamophobia in the (Conservative) Party is institutional, tolerated by the leadership and seen as acceptable by great swathes of the party membership.” She mentioned anti-Muslim sentiment within the get together was “on display this week”.
The Council additionally raised considerations over 49-day PM Liz Truss for remaining silent whereas being interviewed by Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon, who described the far-right determine Tommy Robinson as a “hero”.
Over the weekend the previous Tory chairwoman Baroness Sayeeda Warsi mentioned Mr Anderson’s feedback have been simply the “tip of the iceberg”. She claimed a earlier evaluation of Islamophobia within the get together’s ranks in 2021 was a “whitewash” and didn’t have the boldness of Muslims within the get together.
On Sunday the Deputy PM Oliver Dowden fuelled tensions as repeatedly declined to say whether or not Mr Anderson’s have been Islamophobic. Appearing on BBC ’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he mentioned: “I don’t believe that Lee Anderson said those remarks intending to be Islamophobic”. The senior Tory additionally mentioned Mr Anderson would have stored the whip had he had apologised for the feedback.
Baroness Warsi mentioned after his look: “Disturbing mealy mouthed evasive responses by Oliver this morning. A clear display that anti-Muslim racism is tolerated within [the] Conservatives.”
Mr Sunak additionally launched an announcement warning of the risks polarisation and extremism pose to UK politics. But the London Mayor Mr Khan responded: “Rishi Sunak’s statement on hatred in politics fails to mention anti-Muslim hatred at all.”His Deputy at this time refused to sentence Lee Anderson’s racist and Islamophobic remarks. Theses are simply two most up-to-date examples of enabling anti-Muslim hatred within the Conservative Party.”
Labour additionally referred to as on the PM to substantiate no offers had been provided to Mr Anderson that might see him have the Tory whip restored. Reform UK chief Richard Tice didn’t rule out opening the door to Mr Anderson after his suspension, saying over the weekend: “I haven’t been in touch with Lee, he hasn’t been in touch with me.”
A Conservative Party spokesman mentioned: “An investigation and subsequent independent review, both conducted over several years by professor Swaran Singh, found no evidence of institutional racism in the Conservative Party.”
