Muslim Council of Britain calls on Tories to review Islamophobia in party and boot out 'racists and bigots'
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The Conservative Party has been urged to launch an independent inquiry into Islamophobia to make sure "racists and bigots have no place in the party".
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has written to party chairman Brandon Lewis, highlighting a string of incidents by Tory candidates and other representatives.
In the open letter, MCB general secretary Harun Khan said they were "more than weekly occurrences of Islamophobia" in April.
They ranged from allegedly offensive tweets to accusations of links to far-right figures.
(Image: Sky)
Mr Khan also highlighted the campaign run by Zac Goldsmith in his unsuccessful bid to beat Labour's Sadiq Khan to become Mayor of London in 2016, saying there had been no action taken against those responsible for "shocking Islamophobia" during the campaign.
Mr Khan added: "We want all political parties to ensure that they are firm in their commitment against all forms of bigotry and discrimination.
"Our democracy should not be overshadowed by a divisive culture within political parties that scapegoats minorities and alienates some who share similar political positions."
Former Tory cabinet minister Baroness Warsi told the Independent a review was "long overdue".
Lady Warsi, who earlier this year told MPs Islamophobia was widespread in the UK, said: "I have raised my concerns about Islamophobic comments and campaigning for more than two years and have done so formally and informally including a letter to the Prime Minister.
(Image: REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett)
"The party has been aware of the issue at the highest level and has failed to take the issue seriously and at times even denied its very existence.
"A formal inquiry is now long overdue and I hope my party send a very clear message by establishing this inquiry that bigotry will not be tolerated in a modern Conservative party."
A Conservative Party spokesman said: "We take all such incidents seriously, which is why we have suspended all those who have behaved inappropriately and launched immediate investigations."