Kemi Badenoch has warned the Labour Party risks creating a “blasphemy law” due to its definition of Islamophobia after the Tories were embroiled in a fresh row over comments made by ex-deputy chairman Lee Anderson.
The Business Secretary, who also holds the post of Equalities Minister, said it was best to use the term “anti-Muslim hatred”.
She claimed such a phrase would protect both religious freedom and the “freedom to criticise religion”.
Badenoch’s remarks come after Labour’s Shadow Equalities Minister Anneliese Dodds accused senior Tories of failing to “call out Islamophobia”.
The Equalities Minister comments come after Labour weighed in on Lee Anderson’s suspension
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Labour’s code of conduct acknowledges there is “no single agreed definition of Islamophobia”.
However, Labour adopted the definition used by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019.
It states Islamophobia as “a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”.
Badenoch took to social media to vent about the row.
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Lee Anderson speaking on GB NewsGb NewsThe Saffron Walden MP said: “We use the term ‘Anti-Muslim hatred’. It makes clear the law protects Muslims.
“In this country, we have a proud tradition of religious freedom and the freedom to criticise religion.
“The definition of ‘Islamophobia’ she uses creates a blasphemy law via the back door if adopted.
“As the minister for the Equality Act, I also know the definition of Islamophobia that Anneliese Dodds and Labour have adopted is not in line with law as written.”
Badenoch added: “Anti-Muslim hatred is more precise and better reflects the UK’s laws, as others have noted.”
She also linked a letter sent to then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid.
Rishi Sunak intervened in the Tory Party's latest Islamophobia row
PABadenoch was responding to a post from Dodds, asking: “Why are senior Conservatives finding it so hard to call out Islamophobia?
“Perhaps because the Conservatives still refuse to adopt the definition used by every other major political party in Britain.
“To tackle the scourge of Islamophobia, we must name it.”
However, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologised for the “hurt and offence” caused when Islamophobic comments from activists were unearthed in 2019.
Anderson doubled down on his comments against Khan earlier today.
He told GB News: “If you are wrong, apologising is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength.
Sadiq Khan was berated by MP Lee Anderson
PA“But when you think you are right you should never apologise because to do so would be a sign of weakness.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addressed the Anderson debacle this morning, labelling the Ashfield MP’s comments as “wrong” but denying the Tory Party has “Islamophobic tendencies”.
A No10 spokesperson added: “The PM has been clear that we don’t tolerate any anti-Muslim hatred in any form and we will combat that and any sort of discrimination of that kind, as we do any racism or prejudice and intolerance, wherever it occurs.”
A spokesman for the Mayor of London referred GB News to this message on social media from Khan over the weekend which said: “Rishi Sunak's statement on hatred in politics fails to mention anti-Muslim hatred at all.
“His deputy today refused to condemn Lee Anderson’s racist and Islamophobic remarks.
“These are just the two most recent examples of enabling anti-Muslim hatred in the Conservative Party.”