Government & Politics

Rochdale loyalties tested by Galloway’s Labour challenge on Gaza policy Flamboyant MP tells the National his by-election victory was a signal that British Muslims could provide a significant general election upset

(National-UAE) Rochdale, says its current MP George Galloway, will be remembered as the place where Britain’s Muslims saw that there was a new way of finding a political voice. His view, although bound with self-interest, was certainly borne out during the National’s […]

Government & Politics

UK election: What is The Muslim Vote — and why does it matter? The campaign backs a list of MPs for the election, and has been driven by Labour's early support for Israel’s war on Gaza

(Middle East Eye) Launched in December 2023, The Muslim Vote (TMV) is a campaign in the UK supporting parliamentary candidates for the upcoming election in constituencies with a significant Muslim electorate. Much of its driving force has been the early support from the […]

Government & Politics

Nigel Farage called out for ‘blanket accusation’ as he says ‘growing number’ of Muslims ‘loathe’ British values The honorary president of Reform UK also said the Conservatives and Labour were to blame for an increase in immigration, not Brexit — after Sky's Trevor Phillips challenged him for his 'offensive' remarks about Muslims.

(Sky News) Nigel Farage has argued on Sky News that a “growing number” of young Muslims in the UK do not subscribe to British values. The Reform UK honorary president told Sky News’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “We have a growing […]

Government & Politics
Government & Politics

Board presidential hopefuls respond to claims of Islamisation of UK politics Four Board presidential candidates take part in hustings at JFS school ahead of May 12 vote

(Jewish News) The four Board of Deputies presidential candidates have displayed differing approaches to answering potentially problematic questions at a hustings ahead of Sunday’s election. At a well-attended event at JFS school on Wednesday evening, hosted expertly by former British Ambassador to […]

Government & Politics

Anger over Starmer’s Gaza stance dents Labour election glory Opposition thumps Conservatives in local polls, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's leadership may survive his party's losses

(National-UAE) Labour’s elation at thumping the Conservatives in the England and Wales local elections has been tempered by concern that it is losing key voter blocs, particularly in Muslim communities, over its stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Labour’s attempt to unseat the […]

Demonstrations

Sadiq Khan apologises to chief rabbi for hinting at Islamophobia over his ceasefire call Exclusive: London mayor reaches out to Ephraim Mirvis after claiming Jewish criticism had been influenced by his Muslim-sounding name

(Jewish News) Sadiq Khan has apologised to the chief rabbi after implying that Ephraim Mirvis’s criticism of his call for a Gaza ceasefire was influenced by his Muslim-sounding name. In an interview with the broadcaster Mehdi Hasan, the mayor of London suggested he […]

Clerics & Preachers

Iran influence in London poses threat to British society, report warns Policy Exchange paper names Islamic Centre of England as 'UK nerve centre' for Tehran's campaign

(National-UAE) Iran’s malign influence in the UK poses a “multidimensional threat to British society” with the government being urged to take urgent action to counter it, an influential think tank has stated. The paper, which was written before Iran’s missile attack on […]

Government & Politics

Europe turning blind eye to Hamas and Hezbollah networks in its territory, experts say Analysts say terror groups operate largely unchecked, running charities, lobbying public opinion and recruiting supporters — and the legal means to stop them are scant

(Times of Israel) A stash of weapons was found hidden under a pine tree in southern Bulgaria last week. The arms were linked to four suspected Hamas members arrested in Germany and the Netherlands in December on suspicion of preparing an attack […]

Children & Teens

Record number of children arrested in UK over ‘terrorist-related activities’ Overall, 219 people were detained in 2023, up a third on previous year and highest figure since 2019

(National-UAE) More than 40 children were arrested in connection with alleged terrorism offences in the UK last year — the highest number since records began, official figures show. The Home Office said police made 219 arrests for terrorism-related activities in the 12 […]

Government & Politics

Michael Gove names far-right and Islamist groups which could fall under fresh extremism definition The communities secretary insisted the government has no intention of restricting 'freedom of expression, religion or belief,' as critics warned the new definition could have a 'chilling effect' on free speech.

(Sky News) Michael Gove has named five groups that will be re-assessed as a result of the government’s new definition of extremism. Speaking in the Commons, the communities secretary said two far-right organisations — the British National Socialist Movement and the Patriotic […]

Government & Politics

New extremism definition unveiled because ‘democracy at risk from far-right and Islamist extremists’ Michael Gove updates the description to include conduct that falls short of criminality, but the government still deems 'unacceptable.'

(Sky News) The government has unveiled its new definition of extremism despite warnings it could have a “chilling effect” on free speech. Michael Gove, the communities secretary, has updated the definition as part of a drive to clamp down on the Islamist […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

In Britain, shockwaves from Israel-Hamas war are jolting domestic politics The United States and several European nations have been caught up in toxic debates that have altered election campaigns and led to eruptions of inflammatory language over the conflict.

(NY Times) Inside Britain’s Parliament, lawmakers jeered, booed, and stormed out of the House of Commons to protest the speaker’s handling of a vote calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. Outside, a crowd of pro-Palestinian demonstrators projected the slogan, “From the river […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

UK’s Tories tear themselves apart over Islamophobia A row over a suspended MP has triggered a days-long debate in the governing party about anti-Muslim hatred.

(Politico) Britain’s Conservatives have yet another civil war on their hands. The governing party has spent much of the past week publicly agonizing about anti-Muslim prejudice — and the bitter row shows no signs of subsiding. Lee Anderson, the party’s former deputy […]

Demonstrations

Commons speaker says he allowed Labour Gaza motion out of fears for ‘safety of MPs and their families’ Lindsay Hoyle apologises to MPs over Commons Gaza vote chaos saying 'I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing'

(Jewish News) House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has said he controversially allowed Labour to bring their Gaza ceasefire motion to a vote because of genuine fears over the safety of MPs and their families. The surprise move took place as thousands […]

Government & Politics

George Galloway accused of ‘using’ Rochdale’s Muslim community A renegade candidate and Labour in turmoil — all eyes are on next week’s by-election as recent events make the result anything but a foregone conclusion

(Jewish News) Muslim voters in the Greater Manchester by-election town of Rochdale this week openly expressed fears to Jewish News that the veteran anti-Zionist campaigner George Galloway is “using us” as he attempts to secure victory in the polls. One local businessman, […]

Government & Politics

Robert Jenrick claims ‘Islamist extremists’ have been allowed to dominate our streets The former minister tells the Commons 'British Jews and others' are ' too intimidated to walk through central London week after week'

(Jewish News) Former Tory minister Robert Jenrick has suggested “Islamist extremists” have been allowed to dominate our streets leaving “British Jews and others too intimidated to walk through central London week after week.” Speaking in the Commons, as MPs discussed the frantic […]

Government & Politics

Labour candidate claimed Israel deliberately let Jews be slaughtered on 7 October Azhar Ali said: 'They deliberately took the security off, they allowed that massacre that gives them the green light to do whatever they bloody want'

(Jewish News) Labour’s by-election candidate in Rochdale has been recorded claiming Israel deliberately allowed the 7 October Hamas massacre to give it the “green light” to invade Gaza. In a recording obtained by the Mail on Sunday newspaper, Azhar Ali said: “The […]

Government & Politics

‘Labour is 30,000 dead Gazans too late’: Muslim campaign aims to disrupt UK politics A new Muslim campaign is supporting independent candidates to run in the UK's upcoming election against MPs who have opposed a ceasefire

(Middle East Eye) A new Muslim campaign supporting independent candidates to run in Britain’s general election has slammed the Labour Party’s concern over losing Muslim support as “30,000 dead Gazans too late.” The Guardian reported on Tuesday that Labour leader Keir Starmer’s […]

Government & Politics

Sunak criticises Starmer over legal advice he gave to extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir Labour leader's spokesperson says he gave advice in 2008 to the group, set to be banned in the UK, as 'lawyers give advice to people they don't necessarily agree with'

(Jewish News) Rishi Sunak has attempted to use Keir Starmer’s past record as a barrister, when he offered advice to the Islamist extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir in a case in Germany, as means of discrediting the Labour leader’s position on UK security. […]

Demonstrations

Speaker cheered as he calls for ‘world to be de-Zionised’ at London pro-Palestine demo Mohammed el-Kurd, a Palestinian writer and poet, is an official speaker at latest PSC-organised protest in London and urges attendees to 'root Zionism out of the world'

(Jewish News) An official speaker [at] the latest pro-Palestine demonstration in London has been cheered loudly as he called for the world to be “de-Zionised.” Mohammed el-Kurd, a Palestinian writer and poet who spoke from the stage at Saturday’s protest, added: “We […]

Crime

Pro-Palestine group who confronted Starmer in Scotland praised Hamas’ 7 October atrocities Two people were charged after the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign urged activists to confront Labour leader in Glasgow on Thursday

(Jewish News) A pro-Palestine group who confronted Keir Starmer as he arrived in Glasgow for a speaking event issued a statement on the day of the 7 October Hamas terror attacks in Israel praising them as “remarkable gains made by the Palestinian […]

Clerics & Preachers

Muslim activist who led mosque call for Starmer to resign once declared: ‘We are all Hamas’ Exclusive: Mukhtar Master organised a statement criticising the Labour leader by 20 mosques in Preston.

(Jewish News) A British Muslim activist who led an attempt to force Labour councillors to call for Keir Starmer to resign over his position on Gaza has previously openly spoken in support of Hamas, Jewish News can reveal. Mukhtar Master, who organised […]

Demonstrations

Police ‘actively looking’ for individuals over antisemitic signs at pro-Palestinian march While a march in the capital calling for a ceasefire in Gaza remained largely peaceful, images are circulating on social media showing some protesters having carried antisemitic signs. Sky News has also seen antisemitic graffiti close to the route.

(Sky News) The Metropolitan Police has said it is “actively looking” for individuals pictured carrying antisemitic placards at the pro-Palestinian march in London. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in a march in the capital on Saturday, calling for a ceasefire […]