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 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Muslim Council demands Tory Islamophobia inquiry | Muslim Council demands Tory Islamophobia inquiry |
(32 minutes later) | |
The Muslim Council of Britain has formally asked 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". | 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. | The MCB is an umbrella organisation of various UK Muslim bodies, including mosques, schools, and charitable associations. |
'Callous' | 'Callous' |
It accused the Conservatives of not taking action against Islamophobia shown by Tory MPs, and tolerating discrimination towards party members. | 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, and accused it of showing a "callous attitude to complaints". | |
The MCB has previously said the level of prejudice within the party was "astonishing" and called repeatedly for an independent investigation into discrimination claims. | |
The request comes on the same day that the EHRC announced a formal investigation into the Labour Party over allegations of anti-Semitism. | 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. | 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". | An EHRC spokesperson said the body had written to the Conservative Party "to ask for information in order to help assess the complaints". |
Earlier this month, the MCB criticised the government for rejecting a definition of Islamophobia created by a cross-party group of MPs. | |
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims wanted to define it to tackle what it called a "social evil". | |
Its wording has the support of various political parties - including Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Conservatives - and several Muslim groups. | |
But a government spokesman said it needed "further careful consideration" and had "not been broadly accepted". |