Tories urged to investigate Islamophobia within party

THE Conservative Party has been urged to launch an independent inquiry into Islamophobia to make sure “racists and bigots have no place in the party”.

The Muslim Council of Britain has written to Brandon Lewis, the party’s chairman, highlighting a string of incidents by Tory candidates and other representatives.

In the letter, Harun Khan, the council’s general secretary, said there were “more than weekly occurrences of Islamophobia” in April.

They ranged from allegedly offensive tweets to accusations of links to far-right figures.

Mr Khan also highlighted the campaign run by Zac Goldsmith in his unsuccessful challenge to Labour’s Sadiq Khan in the race to become Mayor of London in 2016, saying there had been no action taken against those responsible for “shocking Islamophobia” during the campaign.

Mr Khan added: “We want all political parties to ensure that they are firm in their commitment against all forms of bigotry and discrimination.

“Our democracy should not be overshadowed by a divisive culture within political parties that scapegoats minorities and alienates some who share similar political positions.”

Baroness Warsi, a former Tory Cabinet minister who earlier this year told MPS Islamophobia was widespread in the UK, told The Independent: “The party has been aware of Islamophobia at the highest level and has failed to take the issue seriously and at times even denied its very existence.”

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “We take all such incidents seri- ously, and have suspended all those who have behaved inappropriately.”