Blue Labour Peer Urges Keir Starmer To Drop Plans For Islamophobia Definition
4 min read
The Labour peer behind the Blue Labour movement has urged Keir Starmer to drop any plans to introduce an Islamophobia definition, claiming that it could inflame community tensions and harm free speech.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has set up a working group, led by former Conservative attorney general Dominic Grieve, to provide recommendations on how to tackle anti-Muslim hatred in the UK, including whether to create a new definition of Islamophobia.
In July, MPs and peers were invited to share their views with the working group. At the meeting in Parliament last month, Grieve said it may conclude that there is no need for a definition, PoliticsHome reported. If the group does produce a definition, however, it will likely be published in September, the former Tory Cabinet minister said.
The government says it retains the right not to accept recommendations made by the working group, and that any new definition must be compatible with free speech laws.
Labour peer Maurice Glasman, who founded the Blue Labour movement, said that introducing a definition risked creating the perception of a "two-tier" system and would cause major "political damage" to Starmer's party.
Blue Labour combines left-wing views on the economy with conservative positions on cultural issues. It has been a growing talking point within Labour in recent months as the party seeks ways to improve its popularity and counter the threat posed by Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
Glasman told PoliticsHome: “People should be free to explore, criticise aspects of religion. As far as I can see, in this Islamophobia definition, it could be illegal to criticise Islam...
“The whole post-Victoria English culture was based on the mild scepticism about claims of religion. It’s madness to bring in a new law which limits what can be said.
"I’m also very sceptical about the definition of antisemitism for very similar reasons. It makes criticism of Israel and of the Jewish religion [more difficult]."
The peer, who was the only Labour figure to be invited to US President Donald Trump's inauguration earlier this year, continued: "It's a matter of freedom to explore publicly sceptical thoughts about religion. That's fundamental to our liberty.”
Glasman agreed with Fiyaz Mughal, founder of Tell Mama, an organisation which tracks cases of anti-Muslim hatred, who this week told The Times that an Islamophobia definition would curtail free speech and create the perception of a "two-tier" system.
The Labour peer said it would paint the impression that there is “one law for them and one law for us”.
Lord Glasman at 2015 Labour Party conference (Alamy)
Speaking to PoliticsHome, Mughal said the Labour government was demonstrating a blind spot to how the country would react to a new Islamophobia definition.
In recent weeks, there have been protests and counter-protests over the policy of housing asylum seekers in hotels, including the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex.
Mughal, who campaigns to improve inter-faith relations, said he is concerned that the introduction of a definition will risk fuelling a public perception that there is a two-tier society for Muslims and non-Muslims, and could act as a catalyst for further social unrest.
“Pushing ahead with a definition shows Labour’s complete blind spot for how a counter reaction has developed to any perception that one community is getting a different deal to another, whether that's true or not,” he said.
“By pushing ahead and not listening, Labour are pressing the button that they will cause a reaction in society where some segments will say Muslim communities are receiving favourable treatment."
While the anti-Muslim Hatred / Islamophobia working group has carried out a consultation, Mughal said the process "very much feels like a fait accompli" and claimed that those urging the government to "stop and think" are not being properly listened to.
He also warned that the introduction of a definition ought to have "alarm bells" ringing for Labour MPs at risk of losing their seats to Reform.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson told PoliticsHome: “We are absolutely committed to defending freedom of speech, and any proposed definition must be compatible with the right to freedom of speech and expression.
“The independent working group has been engaging extensively with a wide range of communities and will provide independent, evidence-based advice to Ministers.
“The published terms of reference for the working group are clear that, should they wish to propose a definition, it must be compatible with the unchanging right of British citizens to exercise freedom of speech and expression — which includes the right to criticise, express dislike of, or insult religions and the beliefs and practices of adherents.”
