MCB questions ITV’s failure to address Islamophobia in the Conservative Party

Today the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has written to ITV questioning its decision not to raise the issue of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party during last night’s debate between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.

The debate was the first debate of this election between the party leaders, and focused on many issues pertinent to voters, including Brexit, the NHS and climate change. Despite the plague of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party having been prominent in the news recently, and particularly over the last week, ITV failed to raise this issue even once. 

The Prime Minister, who himself has a record of making offensive Islamophobic remarks and winning the endorsement of far-right, anti-Muslim activists, was not questioned over this, nor over the string of incidents over the last week which has seen prospective parliamentary candidates, councillors and party members exposed for making or endorsing Islamophobic comments. The MCB has called this editorial decision by ITV “seriously concerning”, and has asked for a full explanation as to why Islamophobia, despite being an issue of great importance to many voters – Muslim and non-Muslim – was blatantly omitted from the debate.

Given that Mr Johnson and other Conservative Party leadership contenders all pledged to hold an external inquiry into Islamophobia in the party live on TV in June this year and have since reneged on this, it is astonishing that ITV did not pick up on this during the question about lies and public trust in politicians.

Commenting, Secretary General of the MCB Harun Khan said:

“Last night’s thorough debate explored a number of important issues that will be at the forefront of people’s minds on 12^th December.

“It makes no sense whatsoever therefore that ITV felt it was not important enough to call out and hold the Prime Minister to account over Islamophobia in the Conservative Party, which we know to be a systemic problem of great significance to many people.

“Even if we were to overlook the Conservative Party’s history, and indeed the Prime Minister’s own history with Islamophobia, the last week has brought enough new cases of Islamophobia from within its ranks for it to be discussed and raised in last night’s debate.

“We should be holding all parties equally responsible over incidents of racism. Muslims, and racism against Muslims, should not be considered less important and ITV’s failure to address this is deeply disappointing.”

ENDS