Former Tory minister Claire Coutinho — seen delighting in Badenoch’s shameful performance in the Commons on 24 June — appears to be on roll when it comes to demeaning and bullying people she deems ‘lesser’ than, including Muslims.
Speaking in the Commons, she had the audacity to call on the government to scrap the existing definition of Islamophobia, which refers to anti-Muslim hostility. This comes at a time when anti-Muslim hate, coupled with violence and threats to life, are on the rise against British muslims.
That hate has been taken out on anyone with Brown skin, highlighting racism as the real issue underpinning Islamophobia.
Apparently, the most offensive aspect of the definition appears to be the fact it can be applied to much of today’s commentary from politicians and pundits alike.
Nevertheless, others have called out how for antisemitism, which is also rising in the UK, its prevalence led to a stronger, more wide-reaching definition and tougher policing. For Islamophobia, that decisive action remains to be seen.
Former Conservative minister Claire Coutinho has called for the government’s proposed definition of Islamophobia to be withdrawn.
Imagine the reaction if someone proposed withdrawing a definition of antisemitism.
Why should it be difficult to ensure that all minority… pic.twitter.com/zeuunLHD6h
— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) June 24, 2026
Hierarchy of racism in the UK
Since October 7, 2023, the British public have had more and more glimpses into the hierarchy of racism at play in UK politics as the genocide increasingly exposed the genocidal Israeli state and the value of Palestinian lives in the West. For years, Black and Brown people have been disproportionately criminalised, judged and impacted by government policy and policing, with little real action taken to counter this imbalance in British society.
This has been made all the more obvious since the Hamas attack, with antisemitism invoked more than ever — thanks to the influence of pro-Israel lobby groups and Zionist donors — to suppress freedom of speech and the right to protest for UK citizens. Particularly targeting pro-Palestinian advocacy who object to genocide and Zionist terrorism, to silence dissent against the settler-colonial Zionist state of Israel.
However, we have seen far more instances of hate crimes and violent attacks at Brown people, with Brown women being raped simply for the ‘crime’ of being Muslim — or, in the case of Sikh women, misidentified as Muslim.
Just last week, the UK saw a roaming rampage by a white man who made his murderous intentions clear – Muslim people apparently needed to be stopped, and, like Tommy Robinson, believed death was the only answer.
Nevertheless, in contrast to the Golders Green arson and stabbing attack, the British government and Zionist stooge Starmer have been dragging their feet in reluctance to afford the same concern for Islamophobia as they have shown for antisemitism.
Starmer turns a blind-eye to anti-Muslim hate
Arguably, affording the same concern would likely keep the government very busy with how prolific anti-Muslim hate is — and we know how much our government and MPs generally would prefer to ignore that fact.
After all, they might have to reflect on how a recent UN report found Palestinian children have been deliberately targeted by Israel. So far, the impact on Israelis is the only thing to have captured the government’s attention.
Leicester South MP Shockat Adam asks why there was no ministerial statement or COBRA meeting after five British Muslims were attacked in Edinburgh
Keir Starmer rightly responds that "We will all fight anti-Muslim hatred with all that we’ve got. An an attack on one of us is an… pic.twitter.com/7Nvkf8uGCW
— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) June 24, 2026
Forget having a COBRA meeting, water down the threat
Independent MP for Leicester South, Shockat Adam, confronted this gross disparity in judgement on Wednesday in Parliament:
My children, like millions others, are kicking every ball of the England World Cup campaign. But I, as a parent, am really concerned about their security in this country along with other Muslim parents. Let me explain why – when a Sikh lady got raped in Warsaw the perpetrator repeatedly called her an effing Muslim bitch.
Whilst there was no condemnation from the minister from the dispatch box, no outcry from members in this chamber who openly call out these matters when the perpetrators are of a different colour.
When we had the Unite the Kingdom march calling openly for the expulsion of Muslims in this country, there was no ministerial statement condemning such statements.
When this weekend we had five members of the Muslim community stabbed on the streets of Edinburgh, there was no ministerial statement of condemnation, no COBRA meeting, no COBRA meeting and no solidarity.
Can I ask the Prime Minister what does this silence say to my children as they wait with abated breath for Harry Kane to bring it home?
Starmer: I want his children to feel safe in this country. and I will do everything to make sure that they are. We will all fight anti-Muslim hatred with everything that we have got. An attack on one is an attack on all of us. That is what I said at the top of PMQs and I hope you heard it.
What Starmer appears unable to recognise – yet has no problem with it in alleged antisemitic attacks – is that Muslim people hear enough about anti-Muslim hate, they live it daily, what is needed is real action.
Instead, Tory MP Nick Timothy makes clear he apparently has no problem with Muslim people, so long as they are not ‘seen’ in public spaces. Apparently, Muslim people coming together to pray outside is affronting to the right-wing politician.
When his Islamophobia is called out — and rightly so — he seems to see fit to say he has been mistreated.
Like many women and girls across the country will be able to recognise, abusive men often blame the victim and instead, see accurate feedback as offensive:
Today Bridget Phillipson called me a racist for what I said about mass Muslim prayer on Trafalgar Square.
But religious belief and racial identity are different things.
That’s what’s wrong with the “Islamophobia” definition.
It’s already being used to shut down free speech. pic.twitter.com/foPrdYY1WS
— Nick Timothy MP (@NJ_Timothy) June 24, 2026
They continue to incite anti-Muslim hate
Farage, Tommy Robinson and political far-right often cite that freedom of speech is under threat in the UK — which it is, made clear by the protesters being charged as terrorists for placards saying they oppose genocide.
But when your idea of ‘free speech’ is to make an entire religious community feel unwanted, unsafe and unwelcome in the UK, it is no longer free speech but hate speech.
When that ‘free speech’ is directed at Muslim people, whilst the hard-right, as well as centrists, might not like the label, it is Islamophobia. Just as it would be antisemitic to shutdown a Jewish religious event or celebration simply because you just don’t like to see it.
Even worse, there is a causal link between the genocide in Gaza and the rise of anti-Muslim, hostile rhetoric.
Especially by those with power and influence who choose to incite the violent, abusive attacks seen against Brown citizens in the UK.
Featured image via the Canary
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