This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48434202
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Muslim Council demands Tory Islamophobia inquiry | Muslim Council demands Tory Islamophobia inquiry |
(32 minutes later) | |
The Muslim Council of Britain has called for the UK's human rights watchdog to investigate accusations of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party. | The Muslim Council of Britain has called for the UK's human rights watchdog to investigate accusations of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party. |
In a letter to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, the MCB said a problem "runs deep into the party". | In a letter to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, the MCB said a problem "runs deep into the party". |
The EHRC said in response that it was considering complaints about the party in line with its "usual processes". | |
In March, party deputy chairman James Cleverly insisted "immediate action" was taken after any racism claims. | In March, party deputy chairman James Cleverly insisted "immediate action" was taken after any racism claims. |
The MCB is an umbrella organisation of various UK Muslim bodies, including mosques, schools, and charitable associations. | |
'Callous' | |
It accused the Conservatives of not taking action against Islamophobia shown by Tory MPs, and tolerating discrimination towards party members. | |
In its letter, the MCB said there was "sufficient evidence" to suggest the party may have breached anti-discrimination law. | |
It also accused it of showing a "callous attitude to complaints". | |
The MCB has previously said the level of prejudice within the party was "astonishing" and discrimination claims should be independently investigated. | |
The request comes on the same day that the EHRC announced a formal investigation into the Labour Party over allegations of anti-Semitism. | |
Conservative peer Baroness Warsi, who was the first female Muslim cabinet minister, has long criticised her party over the issue. | Conservative peer Baroness Warsi, who was the first female Muslim cabinet minister, has long criticised her party over the issue. |
In April, Tory chairman Brandon Lewis insisted the party's approach to Islamophobia was "transparent" but would not say how many complaints it had received. | |
An EHRC spokesperson said the body had written to the Conservative Party "to ask for information in order to help assess the complaints". |