While the media concentrates its headlines on the alleged anti-Semitism in the Labour Party there appears to be a silence on the Islamophobia, particularly within the Tory ranks..
18% of people believe “Muslim immigration to this country is part of a bigger plan to make Muslims a majority of this country’s population” and 31% of young children believe Muslims are taking over England. There is a particular tendency for anti-Muslim racists to vote for the Conservative party, over and above others. Almost half (49%) of Conservative voters see Islam as a threat to the British way of life, with a similar number (47%) believing the false conspiracy theory that there are no-go areas where sharia law dominates and non-Muslims cannot enter. Conservative MP Henry Smith dismissed claims of Islamophobia in the Conservative party, citing the fact he personally had not seen any anti-Muslim discrimination.
42% of Tory voters have a positive view of the way Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (popularly known as Tommy Robinson) highlights issues ignored by the media (compared with 18% of Labour voters).
Conservative MP Bob Blackman retweeted an anti-Muslim post from Tommy Robinson, yet he did not even get a slap on the wrist from the party. In fact, despite having subsequently hosted anti-Muslim extremist in parliament (Tapan Ghosh), shared an Islamophobic story on Facebook, and been found as a member of a number of Islamophobic social-media groups, the party seems to have no real concern and the prime minister even chose to campaign with him.
Conservative MP Nadine Dorries shared a tweet from Tommy Robinson before using far-right tropes against Sadiq Khan, Yasmine Alibhai-Brown and Muslims more generally and – despite being personally against same-sex marriage – weaponised gay rights to attack Muslims. Unlike Blackman, she didn’t even apologise once she was found out.
Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell’s Facebook account being found to have joined a “Free Tommy” group.
Conservative MPs Jacob Rees-Mogg, Michael Gove and Boris Johnson meeting Steve Bannon, who famously praised Tommy Robinson as representing the working class. Johnson’s burqa comments have led to many claiming that he is using Islamophobia as part of a populist, Trump-like appeal to anti-Muslims in the party.
There are many who will say this is a clear indication of institutional Islamophobia – if not, how could a mayoral campaign built on racist tropes about Muslims have gained the support of the Conservative leadership, not to mention the active participation of Theresa May and David Cameron? And why would the former chair of the party, Baroness Warsi, say there is a “simmering underbelly of Islamophobia” in the party?
Only 11% of Muslims appear to have voted Conservative in 2017 – are being ignored as they are electorally insignificant compared to the large numbers of Tory supporters with racist views, demonstrated by the comparatively low funding going to mosques to support security, despite a rise in Islamophobic attacks.
18% of people believe “Muslim immigration to this country is part of a bigger plan to make Muslims a majority of this country’s population” and 31% of young children believe Muslims are taking over England. There is a particular tendency for anti-Muslim racists to vote for the Conservative party, over and above others. Almost half (49%) of Conservative voters see Islam as a threat to the British way of life, with a similar number (47%) believing the false conspiracy theory that there are no-go areas where sharia law dominates and non-Muslims cannot enter. Conservative MP Henry Smith dismissed claims of Islamophobia in the Conservative party, citing the fact he personally had not seen any anti-Muslim discrimination.
42% of Tory voters have a positive view of the way Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (popularly known as Tommy Robinson) highlights issues ignored by the media (compared with 18% of Labour voters).
Conservative MP Bob Blackman retweeted an anti-Muslim post from Tommy Robinson, yet he did not even get a slap on the wrist from the party. In fact, despite having subsequently hosted anti-Muslim extremist in parliament (Tapan Ghosh), shared an Islamophobic story on Facebook, and been found as a member of a number of Islamophobic social-media groups, the party seems to have no real concern and the prime minister even chose to campaign with him.
Conservative MP Nadine Dorries shared a tweet from Tommy Robinson before using far-right tropes against Sadiq Khan, Yasmine Alibhai-Brown and Muslims more generally and – despite being personally against same-sex marriage – weaponised gay rights to attack Muslims. Unlike Blackman, she didn’t even apologise once she was found out.
Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell’s Facebook account being found to have joined a “Free Tommy” group.
Conservative MPs Jacob Rees-Mogg, Michael Gove and Boris Johnson meeting Steve Bannon, who famously praised Tommy Robinson as representing the working class. Johnson’s burqa comments have led to many claiming that he is using Islamophobia as part of a populist, Trump-like appeal to anti-Muslims in the party.
There are many who will say this is a clear indication of institutional Islamophobia – if not, how could a mayoral campaign built on racist tropes about Muslims have gained the support of the Conservative leadership, not to mention the active participation of Theresa May and David Cameron? And why would the former chair of the party, Baroness Warsi, say there is a “simmering underbelly of Islamophobia” in the party?
Only 11% of Muslims appear to have voted Conservative in 2017 – are being ignored as they are electorally insignificant compared to the large numbers of Tory supporters with racist views, demonstrated by the comparatively low funding going to mosques to support security, despite a rise in Islamophobic attacks.
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