Britain’s free speech champion, Lordy Toby Young, has issued a final call to those concerned about Labour’s plans for a new definition of Islamophobia.
His exhortation comes a week after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner extended the deadline and widened a public consultation on the proposals to July 20.
Her climbdown followed months of relentless pressure from Free Speech Union (FSU), which has railed against what it claims is an attempt to smuggle a “blasphemy law through the backdoor”.
Alarm bells were first raised in February, when Labour established an independent working group, chaired by former Conservative Attorney General Dominic Grieve KC, to advise on a definition of anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia.
The final call to save free speech? You have just 24 hours left to stop Labour’s backdoor Islamophobia plotFSU Director Lord Toby Young said at the time that too much was at stake not to invite a broad church of opinions, from groups such as the Christian Concern, the Christian Institute, the Adam Smith Institute, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
He wrote to the Deputy PM to express concern about the lack of invitation and to warn that the definition would treat Islamophobia as a type of racism, thereby threatening free speech and stifling legitimate criticism of Islam as a religion.
In his letter, Young also said the consultation questions appeared “heavily weighted” in favour of a “predetermined outcome”, endorsing a definition “closely aligned” with that put forward by the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on British Muslims.
The APPG definition, adopted by the Labour Party in 2019, describes Islamophobia as “rooted in racism” and “a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has pressed the UK Government to adopt the APPG’s contentious definition.
“The Muslim Council of Britain welcomes the government’s interest in tackling Islamophobia, but rather than reinventing the wheel, we urge them to adopt the APPG definition,” the MCB told Middle East Eye back in February.
Other faith groups have pushed back against this proposed definition, with the Hindu Council warning that it will “harm not only the Hindus, but we believe the 99 per cent of like-minded Muslims too”.
Critics, such as the FSU, fear that the APPG’s definition is too expansive and will stifle legitimate criticism of Islam.
Grieve addressed these concerns in his first interview since being appointed in February, telling GB News’ Chopper’s Political Podcast last week that plans to draw up a definition of Islamophobia will not result in a blasphemy law “by the back door”.
He said: “Look at our terms of reference. They make absolutely explicit that we will not introduce some blasphemy law to protect religion, whether it’s Islam or anything else, by the back door.”
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A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman told GB News: “The independent working group is listening to a broad range of views and perspectives.
“The call for evidence will enable them to build on the extensive consultation already undertaken, ensuring the advice provided to Government reflects diverse experiences and opinions, while also safeguarding our vital and unwavering right to freedom of speech.”
The Government insists that the process is open to all, with a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman telling GB News: “The independent working group is listening to a broad range of views and perspectives.
“The call for evidence will enable them to build on the extensive consultation already undertaken, ensuring the advice provided to Government reflects diverse experiences and opinions, while also safeguarding our vital and unwavering right to freedom of speech.”
However, critics fear that this is a fig leaf.
Lord Young is therefore imploring the British public to register their concerns before it’s too late.
He told GB News: “When Dominic Grieve, the Chair of the Working Group on Islamophobia/Anti-Muslim Hatred, briefed peers last week, he said one option the group was considering was advising the Government to abandon the idea of coming up with a definition.
“So my advice to anyone concerned about this – and they should be concerned – is to respond to the consultation saying you think it’s a really bad for the Government to adopt a definition of ‘Islamophobia/Anti-Muslim Hatred’.
“If it emerges after the consultation’s closed that, say, 70 per cent of the respondents urged the Working Group to drop the whole thing, it will be difficult for them to proceed.”
How can I get involved?
The Working Group would like to hear from a range of organisations and individuals relevant to its work. If you wish to participate, please do so on this form by Sunday 20 July.
Please contact the definitionsecretariat@communities.gov.uk if you want further information or have any accessibility issues.
