UK Minister & Labour MPs Attend Muslim Council Event Despite Whitehall Policy

[Social Media]

 

Sir Stephen Timms, the minister for social security and disability, has sparked questions by attending the Muslim Council of Britain’s (MCB) annual leadership dinner, an event that appears to defy Whitehall’s longstanding “non-engagement” policy with the organization. The policy, in place since 2009, has prevented government officials from engaging with the MCB due to unresolved concerns about extremism.  

 

Timms, alongside Labour MPs Naz Shah, Afzal Khan, and Abtisam Mohamed, attended the dinner, held last Thursday and attended by over 300 Muslim leaders. The evening, described as one for reflection, also featured recognition for Shah and Khan, who received awards for their contributions. Footage from the event shows Timms alongside Zara Mohammed, the outgoing leader of the MCB.  

 

 

The MCB, representing over 500 mosques, schools, and charities, has faced strained relations with the government since Hazel Blears, the then-communities minister, suspended ties in 2009. This decision followed allegations that one of the MCB's leaders supported violence against Israel. Despite calls from some quarters to revisit the policy, a recent statement from Dan Jarvis, the security minister, affirmed in Parliament, “There has been no change to policy on engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain.”  

 

Nick Timothy, a Conservative MP and former special adviser to Theresa May, has questioned Timms’ attendance, asking whether it reflects a change in government policy or a breach of collective responsibility. In a letter to Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, Timothy stated, “All this raises serious questions about the government’s policy towards the MCB. Can you confirm that it is government policy that no minister should engage with the MCB? If that is so, why was Mr. Timms at the dinner on 23 January? Does this reflect a change in government policy or did Mr. Timms defy collective responsibility?”  

 

 

The controversy around the MCB remains tied to accusations of unresolved extremism concerns. Sir William Shawcross, who reviewed the Prevent strategy in 2023, supported the continuation of the non-engagement policy, citing these unresolved issues. This sentiment was echoed earlier this year when Mohammed Kozbar, the MCB’s deputy secretary-general, was removed as an adviser to the Metropolitan Police after a controversial social media post from January 2024 came to light.  

 

Adding to the uncertainty, a freedom of information request revealed that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government held records of internal discussions about the MCB since Labour’s election victory on July 4. However, the department declined to release the information, stating it would not be in the public interest.  

 

For now, the question of whether Sir Stephen Timms' attendance signals a shift in policy or a personal decision remains unanswered. The event has reignited debates over the MCB’s relationship with the government and the criteria for re-engagement, highlighting the political sensitivity surrounding the matter.  

 

Based on a report by The Times 2025-01-29

 

 

[Theforgotten1]

Sack them , no excuses

[billd766]

36 minutes ago, Theforgotten1 said:

Sack them , no excuses

Sack then for what?

 

Are people not allowed their own private lives under the Labour government?

 

Did they break any laws, commit any crimes. or simply attend a farewell dinner in their own time?

[koolkarl]

And they call this light bulb "Sir."  He should read parts of the Koran that relates to infidels.

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, billd766 said:

Sack then for what?

 

Are people not allowed their own private lives under the Labour government?

 

Did they break any laws, commit any crimes. or simply attend a farewell dinner in their own time?

I'd sack the ones who are knights. They have no right to represent the British public.

[Theforgotten1]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

Sack then for what?

 

Are people not allowed their own private lives under the Labour government?

 

Did they break any laws, commit any crimes. or simply attend a farewell dinner in their own time?

Ok , hang them for treason 

[proton]

Consorting with and grovelling to the enemy, traitors

[JonnyF]

Come on, you can't expect Labour MP's to turn down free food and a night out because of something minor like extremism. 

[HK MacPhooey]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

Sack then for what?

 

Are people not allowed their own private lives under the Labour government?

 

Did they break any laws, commit any crimes. or simply attend a farewell dinner in their own time?

Because the Muslim Council of Britain are not and should never be recognised by the British Government

[billd766]

31 minutes ago, Theforgotten1 said:

Ok , hang them for treason 

On what grounds?

[billd766]

26 minutes ago, proton said:

Consorting with and grovelling to the enemy, traitors

Proof?

[billd766]

23 minutes ago, HK MacPhooey said:

Because the Muslim Council of Britain are not and should never be recognised by the British Government

Says who?

 

Have they broken any laws?

 

IIRC, freedom of religion is still allowed in the UK.

 

Just because you don't like or agree with it does NOT make it illegal.

[proton]

17 minutes ago, billd766 said:

Proof?

 

Islam is the enemy of all non muslims

[RuamRudy]

2 hours ago, proton said:

 

Islam is the enemy of all non muslims

 

As a slogan, it may rouse a few of the more florid of complection, but in reality that means absolutely nothing.

 

Muslims and non Muslims live together in peaceful and civic harmony all over the world. They prove your post to be nothing more than ill informed nonsense. 

[Nick Carter icp]

3 hours ago, billd766 said:

Says who?

 

Have they broken any laws?

 

IIRC, freedom of religion is still allowed in the UK.

 

Just because you don't like or agree with it does NOT make it illegal.

 

    There are currently unresolved concerns about the MCB's connection with terrorist groups , that is why the Condersaive didn't engage with the MCB

[billd766]

5 hours ago, proton said:

 

Islam is the enemy of all non muslims

So, you have no response other than the same old, same old tired story.

 

How sad for you.

[Neeranam]

5 hours ago, proton said:

 

Islam is the enemy of all non muslims

I've no idea why your Islamophobic hate posts are allowed to bypass the forum rules. 

Your statement is rooted in fear and ignorance rather than reality. Educate yourself before making such harmful generalizations.

[Neeranam]

8 hours ago, koolkarl said:

And they call this light bulb "Sir."  He should read parts of the Koran that relates to infidels.

Why do you keep posting this divisive hate speech?

If he visited the Pope, you wouldn't say "he should read parts of the Old Testament that relates to non-believers". This continual Islamic hate speech just makes you look foolish. 

[Neeranam]

3 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

 

As a slogan, it may rouse a few of the more florid of complection, but in reality that means absolutely nothing.

 

Muslims and non Muslims live together in peaceful and civic harmony all over the world. They prove your post to be nothing more than ill informed nonsense. 

Indeed.

There are over 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide with diverse views and practices. Painting them all as "enemies" is a repulsive generalization.

[koolkarl]

9 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Why do you keep posting this divisive hate speech?

If he visited the Pope, you wouldn't say "he should read parts of the Old Testament that relates to non-believers". This continual Islamic hate speech just makes you look foolish. 

Because what I write is true and you must be a muslim.

[Neeranam]

3 hours ago, koolkarl said:

Because what I write is true and you must be a muslim.

Are you serious or looking for attention. What you wrote is totally false. Just because I called you out on flawed generalizations doesn’t mean I am a Muslim—it just means I value fairness and accuracy. Stereotyping an entire community based on the actions of a few is both unfair and misleading. Let's focus on facts rather than assumptions. Every community has extremists, but that doesn't define the whole. If we want a better world, we should challenge harmful stereotypes, not spread them. Do you think all American Italians are in the mob? 

[sammieuk1]

And if you had a dinner for 300 Christians you would be branded a racist. it's the shadow government at work probably part funded by Lord Alli's free gear fund 🤔