Lib Dems call on Conservatives to appoint Independent Islamophobia Adviser after two years of inaction

28 Feb 2024

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine has written to the government calling on them to appoint an Independent Adviser on Islamophobia after Conservative ministers have left the post vacant since 2022.

The letter comes just days after former Conservative Deputy Chairman Lee Anderson’s Islamophobic comments about London Mayor Sadiq Khan and his subsequent refusal to apologise.

His remarks have been rightly criticised by a number of groups, including the Muslim Council of Britain who said that the comments were a “disgusting slur that has no place in our public life”.

So far, the Prime Minister has called the remarks “wrong” but stopped short of condemning them as Islamophobic. Anderson has lost the Conservative whip since making the comments.

In the letter, Christine Jardine MP pointed to the "disturbing rise in both antisemitism and Islamophobia" that has occurred in the UK since 7th October as another reason why the role must be filled urgently.

Tell MAMA, an organisation that measures Islamophobic incidents, shows that anti-Muslim cases in the UK have more than tripled in the last four months. They have recorded 2,010 Islamophobic incidents since 7th October - the largest number they have ever recorded over four months.

Despite this, the Conservative government has left the advisory role vacant for two years and dropped its plans to bring forward an official definition of Islamophobia.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Women and Equalities spokesperson, Christine Jardine MP said:

“There is no place for hatred in our society and it’s heartbreaking that Islamophobia is on the rise across our country.

“British Muslims deserve decisive action to stamp this out - not a Government that refuses to even call out Islamophobia for what it is.

“Finally appointing an Independent Adviser on Islamophobia would be a vital first step towards taking the type of action the British Muslim community deserves. It’s the least this Conservative government can do.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The letter to the government from Christine Jardine MP:

Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch

Minister for Women and Equalities

70 Whitehall

London

SW1A 2AS

26th February 2024

Dear Minister,

I am writing to urge you to ensure that your Government appoints an Independent Adviser on Islamophobia without further delay.

As you will be aware, the Government currently has left this post vacant since 2022. The events of recent weeks have unfortunately reiterated how vital it is that this post be filled as a matter of urgency.

Since the horrible events of 7th October, the UK has witnessed a disturbing rise in both antisemitism and Islamophobia. The latest data from Tell MAMA, an organisation that measures Islamophobic incidents, shows that anti-Muslim cases in the UK have more than tripled in the last four months.

Tell MAMA recorded 2,010 Islamophobic incidents in that time period - the largest number they have ever recorded over four months.

Not to mention the disturbing comments from Lee Anderson over the weekend and the reluctance of many Conservative ministers, including the Prime Minister, to call them out for what they are - Islamophobic.

We cannot let this type of hate fester in our society.

Religious hatred in all its forms must be stamped out, and the Government has a critical role to play in facilitating that. So it is deeply disappointing that your government has failed to take decisive action in response to the latest spikes in Islamophobia, and that it has abandoned its plans to bring forward an official definition of Islamophobia.

Finally appointing an Independent Adviser on Islamophobia would be a vital first step towards taking the type of action the British Muslim community deserves.

I look forward to your response and swift action.

Yours sincerely,