Twenty-seven Members of Parliament have called for the equalities watchdog to investigate alleged Islamophobia within the Reform UK party. In a letter addressed to Mary-Ann Stephenson, chairperson of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the group of MPs demanded a “formal investigation” into Nigel Farage’s political party.
Allegations of Breaching Equality Law
The MPs argued that Reform UK may have violated its obligations under the Equality Act 2010. They further claimed that the party lacks an adequate disciplinary process for members to raise concerns about discrimination. Afzal Khan, the Labour MP for Manchester Rusholme, who coordinated the letter, stated: “Reform UK have consistently failed to tackle their growing Islamophobia problem.” He warned that “consistent attacks on Muslim communities are putting Muslims in Britain in danger and social cohesion at risk.”
Signatories and Concerns
The letter’s signatories include 26 Labour MPs, such as Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill), Neil Duncan-Jordan (Poole), Allison Gardner (Stoke-on-Trent South), and Simon Opher (Stroud). Also listed is Diane Abbott, the independent MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, who was previously a Labour MP. The MPs wrote: “The prevalence of racism within Reform UK does not exist in a vacuum and has real-world consequences for the millions of British Muslims in our country.” They added that when elected politicians make comments seeking to spread hatred against Muslims, it leads to a culture of intolerance and discrimination, impacting social cohesion nationwide.
Examples of Alleged Islamophobia
At the end of their letter, the MPs listed comments they described as Islamophobic, made by Reform UK MPs, members of the Scottish Parliament, members of the Senedd, councillors, and wider party figures, dating as far back as 2014. Among the examples was Nigel Farage’s call to ban mass religious observances following a Ramadan event in Trafalgar Square, London, earlier this year. Farage described the event as “an attempt to overtake, intimidate and dominate our way of life” during a Reform UK event in Scotland. When asked in March whether he backed banning all mass religious observances, he told the Press Association: “Yes.” The letter also referenced a Prime Minister’s Questions session in June 2025, when Reform UK MP for Runcorn and Helsby Sarah Pochin asked Sir Keir Starmer whether he would “ban the burka.”
Responses
The EHRC and Reform UK have been contacted for comment. According to Sky News, a Reform spokesperson said: “We stand by our comments. We will not be intimidated.”
