Labour must answer questions on Islamophobia | Politics | News

A Conservative MP has demanded that Communities Minister Steve Reed must set out the Government’s plans for the definition of Islamophobia after a “drip drip” of information was given to the public.

On Sunday, Nick Timothy wrote to Mr Reed to say: “Steve Reed must come to the House of Commons and explain the Government’s policy. This drip-drip of information is no way for the Government to communicate with the public about such an important decision. “We also have a problem with how the law is applied by police and prosecutors and they currently grossly misunderstand the Public Order Act.

“They have allowed the Act to become a de facto blasphemy law, intimidating activists and extremists.

“Parliament must change the law to put these problems beyond doubt – but the Police College and CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] It should also issue new guidance to ensure that the Public Order Act is no longer misused in this way.

“Police and prosecutors must also ignore the dangerous and ridiculous concept of ‘Islamophobia’, which confuses protecting people from harm with protecting ideas from scrutiny. We must abolish Britain’s unofficial blasphemy laws altogether.”

Labor has torn up its definition of Islamophobia over fears it could threaten freedom of expression.

A party working group has drawn up new wording to replace the controversial definition it adopted in 2019, replacing the term “Islamophobia” with “anti-Muslim hatred”.

More importantly, it was reported that all references to “Islam” would be removed.