There have been better weeks for community relations in Britain. So what better time for Mr S to report the news that ministers are still planning to press on with a definition of Islamophobia? Back in opposition, Labour supported the adoption of a definition of Islamophobia, drawn up by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims, while Wes Streeting – now the Health Secretary – was its chairman.
It states: ‘Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.’ The Telegraph noted back in August that such a term would not be legally binding but organisations would be urged to adopt in a similar way to the anti-Semitism definition was accepted under Theresa May in 2016. Four months on, little has changed with an MHCLG spokesperson telling Steerpike today: ‘We are committed to tackling hatred in all its forms, including Islamophobia, which has absolutely no place in our society.
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