Ukip is accused of ‘full-throttled’ Islamophobia in policy launch
UKIP has been accused of descending into “fullthrottled Islamophobia” after an “integration policy” launch which included “horrifically heavyhanded” plans to force girls at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) to undergo regular medical checks.
The party was charged with trying to outdo French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and a “desperate” attempt to stay relevant after achieving Brexit as it launched a string of policies aimed almost entirely at Muslims.
Its leader Paul Nuttall, who is refusing to say if he will stand in the general election, said the plans – which also include a public burka ban, banning sharia law, and a moratorium on the creation of new Islamic faith schools – were not designed to sow division.
But after a 35-minute “integration agenda” launch which focused almost exclusively on policies which would affect Muslims, the party was widely criticised.
Former Home Office minister Baroness Featherstone, who helped guide coalition government legislation on FGM through Parliament, focused on Ukip’s proposal to make “at-risk” girls undergo a medical examination every year, and when they return from holiday.
The Liberal Democrat peer said: “Ukip’s approach is horrifically heavy handed and will alienate the very communities we are trying to reach out to.
“We should be training our teachers and other providers such as community experts to identify those at risk and teaching children themselves that FGM is wrong and to come forward if they fear for themselves or a friend.
“Research shows that school teachers are still too scared to talk about FGM, honour-based violence and forced marriage, let alone report it. This is where we should concentrate our efforts, not forcing girls to undergo invasive medical examinations.
“Ukip seem to try and outdo Le Pen with rightwing policies that are insensitive and outrageous.”
Nimko Ali, co-founder of FGM charity Daughters of Eve, said the “knicker checking” policy was “stupid and offensive”, but pointed out that Labour’s Diane Abbott, who she described as a “nut”, had put forward similar plans in 2014, before she was in the shadow cabinet. Ms Ali tweeted: “Forcing girls at risk of £FGM to have medical checks in an abuse of their human rights. £Ukip are not just wrong but offensive as well.”
Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas said: “Ukip’s ‘integration agenda’ is an assault on multiculturalism and an attack on Muslims. It’s fullthrottled Islamophobia. Now that the referendum has passed, Nuttall’s party is desperately scrabbling around for relevance and seem to have settled upon attacks on Muslims and fringe farright politics as their new home.”
But Mr Nuttall said he believed Ukip was “10 years ahead of our time” on these issues, predicting the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems will be “where we are today at some point in the 2020s”.
Opening the launch of Ukip’s integration policy in Westminster, Mr Nuttall said: “Today’s message will be a message of positivity, it will not be about negativity. What we will say today is not designed to sow the seeds of division. It is about promoting integration in British society.” frankly