The Labour government is expected to unveil plans for an “anti-Muslim hostility tsar” as part of a wider strategy to strengthen social cohesion, alongside the introduction of a new definition of Islamophobia.
According to a draft leaked to the press, a “special representative” would “champion efforts across the UK to tackle hostility and hatred directed at Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim.”
The proposals would include allocating £800 million over a decade to 40 areas where social cohesion is considered to be “under pressure.”
The 47-page document does not focus on Islamophobia alone, additionally cautions that antisemitism has become “normalised in many corners of society” – including schools, universities, workplaces and the NHS.
The draft was obtained by the Spectator magazine, which reported that ministers intend to present the final plans as part of a cross-government initiative next week.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government refused to comment at this stage, stating: “We do not comment on leaks.”
As part of the measures, a new definition of Islamophobia is also expected to be introduced within guidance on anti-Muslim hatred.
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The right-wing have long bemoaned the introduction of an Islamophobia definition over complaints that it would curb free speech to attack Islam or Muslim beliefs, warning that introducing a new definition could effectively create a “backdoor blasphemy law” in Britain.
Muslim activists have long rubbished these arguments as an attempt by Islamophobes to protect their ability to incite against Muslims without legal consequences, however, debate remains among Muslim groups about how Islamophobia should be defined and whether the term anti-Muslim hate would be a better term to use.
Shadow communities secretary Sir James Cleverly said the proposal for an anti-Muslim hostility “tsar” could risk creating a “chilling effect.”
He accused Labour of “pandering to sectarianism” after the party lost the previously safe seat of Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester to the Greens in a parliamentary by-election last month.
The Conservative frontbencher said: “The Conservatives stand against such divisive tactics. As Kemi Badenoch said this week, identity politics is a dead end and our country is headed down a dark road if it fails on sectional interests rather than shared values and freedoms Anti-Muslim hatred is real. But we should tackle it with the existing laws we have for that exact purpose, without undermining free expression.”
Last week, a 55-year-old man was charged with possession of an offensive weapon following reports of a man carrying an axe entering Manchester Central Mosque during Ramadan prayers. No one was injured during the incident.
A report published last year by The Independent found that almost half of Muslim women (45 per cent) feel unsafe when using public transport, compared with just 8 per cent of women nationwide.
The survey of 1,155 people in November 2025 also found that more than one in three Muslim women (34 per cent) said they had experienced Islamophobic or racist abuse while travelling.
Despite criticism from the right, Labour will be keen to push ahead with these measures as a the party continues to suffer the consequences of a fallout with UK Muslims over the war on Gaza.
Muslims across the UK have actively campaigned fr a Muslim boycott away from Labour, traditionally a political home for Muslims, as punishment for their support for Israel during the genocide in Gaza.
Labour was crushed in the recent by-election fight for Gorton and Denton, coming in third place while the Green Party was propelled to a strong victory. It is widely believed that local Muslims voting for the Greens played a massive role in securing them a win over Labour in that key parliamentary seat – historically a Labour stronghold.
