The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has published a research document setting out a detailed account of the depth and breadth of Islamophobia in the Conservative party. RNA - The MCB, which is widely regarded as Britain’s leading representative body, released the meticulously detailed – but still inexhaustive – study on March 05.
Describing the problem of Islamophobia in the Tory party as “widespread, institutional and systemic”, the dossier lists 300 cases of Islamophobia in the party.
The cases apply to the party’s leadership as well as the rank and file.
Long list
The examples cited in the study begin with the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, who has five instances or issues relating to Islamophobia to his name.
Besides making direct Islamophobic comments – for example by claiming that “Islam is the problem” – Johnson also maintains strong ties to anti-Islam thinkers and activists, including US ideologue and Donald Trump ally, Steve Banon, and the late conservative British philosopher, Sir Roger Scruton.
Other leading Tories identified for either making Islamophobic comments or supporting Islamophobic causes and personalities include: Bob Blackman (MP for East Harrow); health minister Nadine Dorries; former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt; former Prime Minister David Cameron; and leading Tory ideologue and MP for Surrey Heath, Michael Gove.
Growing problem
The sheer detail contained in the dossier will go a long way to raise public awareness of the Tory’s party massive Islamophobia problem.
But whether that will apply sufficient pressure on the higher reaches of the party to finally take decisive action against the problem is doubtful.
After all, if the top leadership of the Tory party is Islamophobic it stands to reason they won’t even acknowledge the problem let alone fight it.
Indeed, PM Johnson reneged on his promise late last year to hold a focused inquiry into Islamophobia in the Conservative party.
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