by Oliver Wright, The Times
Angela Rayner’s working group sought recommendations from a limited number of groups but the Conservatives critical of the plan disseminated it more widely
Angela Rayner has been forced to delay controversial plans to come up with a definition of Islamophobia after a successful Tory campaign to inundate officials with thousands of public submissions criticising the proposals.
The deputy prime minister set up a working group last spring to provide recommendations to the government on “appropriate and sensitive language” to describe “unacceptable treatment, prejudice and discrimination” against Muslims.
In a move, condemned by critics, the government attempted to limit public input into the plans by circulating the call for evidence to only a limited number of groups.
But their plans were derailed after Claire Coutinho, the shadow equalities minister, found a link to the online consultation form, and circulated it widely on X and other social media platforms.
It led to the government being inundated with thousands of responses — all of which now need to be processed and considered — before the working group can provide its recommendations
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