Government to appoint anti-Muslim hostility czar under new definition

GB News reported that the government is preparing to appoint a specialist adviser, described as a czar, to tackle anti-Muslim hostility under a new definition. The appointment is expected next week, according to the programme.

According to the broadcast, Prime Minister Andy Burnham invited Muslim community leaders to Downing Street earlier this week. He accused his political opponents of using unacceptable language about Islam. Angela Rayner was said to be involved in rewriting the definition of Islamophobia, which has been rebranded as anti-Muslim hostility. Matt Goodwin, the host, described the plan as 'simply a de facto islamic blasphemy law behind the back door'.

Andrew Gilligan, a journalist and former Number 10 adviser, told GB News that the definition was produced by a working group chaired by former Conservative MP Dominic Grieve. He said the group included a number of Muslim activist figures and that the definition could be weaponised in the wrong hands. He said the identity of the new czar was therefore of concern.

Gilligan said he had been told that the favourite for the role was Sayeeda Warsi, a former Conservative Party co-chair who is now estranged from the party. He described a Warsi appointment as potentially disastrous for freedom of expression and for the government. He said she had fallen out with people she had worked for, including the last Conservative government.

GB News contributor Connie Shaw said the working group's five members were all handpicked by the government and had connections to Islamist organisations. She cited a Free Speech Union expose by David Rose and said one member, Akilah Armand, had sat next to Burnham at the Downing Street meeting. Shaw said Armand had previously urged the government to end its boycott of the Muslim Council of Britain.

Journalist and commentator Susie Boniface told the programme that appointing a Conservative peer to a role in a Labour government was not a political scandal. She compared the proposed role with the existing antisemitism czar Lord Mann and said such posts did not stop people discussing antisemitism. She also said a teacher had gone into hiding after offending local Muslims and that his life had been ruined.