Commission rules out probe into Tory Party Islamophobia claims

THE EQUALITY and Human Rights Commission has ruled out holding an investigation “at this stage” into Islamophobia in the Conservative Party.

The move comes after the Tories published terms of reference for an independent probe into discrimination and prejudice within its ranks in December, with Professor Swaran Singh appointed to chair the inquiry.

The EHRC decision comes despite a plea from the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) for the equalities watchdog to look into Islamaphobia in the party after the council submitted a dossier of complaints in March, including allegations against Prime Minister Boris Johnson, inset.

Its general secretary, Harun

Khan, has called the terms for the Tory inquiry a “facade” for covering up racism within the party. A spokesman for the EHRC said it would allow the internal investigation to take its course, but reserved the right to step in if the inquiry is not being carried out to its satisfaction. “We have given very careful consideration to complaints raised about discrimination and Islamophobia in the Conservative Party,” said a spokesman.

“We have concluded, in the light of the decision by the party to institute an independent investigation, that it would not be proportionate to initiate our own investigation at this stage.

“We will be monitoring the review and requiring the party to provide regular updates on progress.”

The MCB, which represents mosques, schools and charitable associations, has accused the ruling party of attempting to “hide” what it claims are “hundreds of incidences of Islamophobic bigotry” committed by members.

The organisation handed its first document to the EHRC in May last year, providing details of about 150 people it believed had displayed Islamophobia or made anti-Islamic or anti-Muslim comments.

It renewed calls for the watchdog to investigate when it submitted a document in March this year which swelled to include double the number of original claims. The Conservatives have been approached for comment.

Meanwhile, the EHRC is carrying out an investigation into anti-Semitism within the Labour Party.