UK Islamophobia Definition Row: Deputy PM Angela Rayner backs down amid backlash over de-facto 'blasphemy law'

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has been forced to back down from her push to define Islamophobia after intense backlash from free speech campaigners, legal threats, and criticism from multiple community groups.

The controversy erupted after Rayner’s office launched a consultation to craft an official government definition of Islamophobia, appointing a 16-member working group known as the “Islamophobia Council” to tackle anti-Muslim hatred. The proposed working definition, based on a 2018 parliamentary report, described Islamophobia as “a type of racism targeting expressions of Muslimness.”

Critics swiftly objected. Free speech advocates warned that equating criticism of religious practices with racism risked stifling legitimate debate, potentially creating a de facto blasphemy law . Hindu, Sikh, and secular organisations raised concerns that focusing solely on anti-Muslim hate ignored threats faced by other religious minorities in Britain. Insight UK and the Hindu Council UK called for a unified Religious Hate Council to ensure all communities are protected equally.

Dominic Grieve, former Tory attorney general and author of the foreword to the 2018 definition, is tipped to chair the council. However, critics argue that reusing the 2018 formulation could dangerously blur the lines between racial discrimination and valid religious critique, including discussions around Islamist extremism and grooming gangs.

In response to growing pressure, including a legal threat from the Free Speech Union which described the process as having a “predetermined outcome,” Rayner has now extended the consultation deadline to July 20 and made it publicly accessible to all stakeholders. The consultation process has also been expanded to include previously excluded groups such as the Christian Institute, Adam Smith Institute, Christian Concern, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The government maintains that its goal is to protect Muslim communities from hate crimes while safeguarding freedom of expression. However, the episode has highlighted deep divides over how Britain tackles religious hatred without undermining civil liberties.
With the consultation closing next week, officials are expected to release a revised draft definition later this month, potentially with softened language or a broader remit to cover all faith groups. For now, Rayner’s retreat underscores the political tightrope of combating discrimination while preserving the freedom to question religious ideologies.