UK Leader Andy Burnham Pledges to Combat Anti-Muslim Hatred Following 'Decade of Division'

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that the UK government will soon appoint an adviser to combat anti-Muslim hostility, aiming to prevent a recurrence of what he described as a “decade of division”. Mr. Burnham met with leaders from the British Muslim community at Downing Street, accompanied by Communities Secretary Angela Rayner, marking his first such meeting since assuming leadership.

He acknowledged the profound impact of division on Muslim communities across the UK, citing instances of online hatred. The appointment of a government adviser on Muslim affairs is expected shortly.

Akeela Ahmed, who leads the watchdog British Muslim Trust (BMT) and attended the meeting, characterized the role as a “positive initiative” given the significant challenges faced by the community. “There is an awful lot to celebrate and build on in the British Muslim Community – there are huge successes in every field from community centres to global stars,” she stated. “But there are huge challenges too – anti-Muslim hate crime is rising, a mosque suffers an attack or racist incident every five days, and one in six of the wider population hold hostile views towards British Muslims. These are issues that must be addressed and at BMT we look forward to working with a new government adviser in fighting back against the forces of division.”

Mr. Burnham has faced pressure to appoint an adviser since taking office this summer. The role of a “special representative” on Muslim affairs was initially promised by former prime minister Keir Starmer in March, coinciding with the government’s introduction of a definition for anti-Muslim hate and other protective measures.

The representative is intended to “champion efforts across the UK to tackle hostility and hatred directed at Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim” by collaborating with communities, schools, and other institutions. In September, veteran Labour MP Afzal Khan emphasized the “clear need for the anti-Muslim hostility tsar to be appointed” and urged the government to proceed promptly.

Anti-Muslim hate crime has seen a substantial increase in recent years, largely attributed to the rise of far-right extremism. Data from the British charity Tell Mama indicates a six-fold increase in anti-Muslim hate incidents in London over the past five years. Last year recorded the highest number of annual reported incidents in London at 1,909, with the figure for 2026 expected to surpass this, having already reached 1,031 by the end of June.

The BMT, currently the government-backed watchdog, has observed that attacks on British mosques are becoming more severe, although lower-level harassment has decreased in the past year.

Mr. Burnham expressed his desire for young British Muslims to feel a sense of belonging and support, stating, “that this is their country, this country is behind them, working to support them, opening up opportunity.” He also criticized the stances taken by opposition parties regarding Muslims as “completely unacceptable,” adding, “Some of the language that they use about the community is unacceptable.”

Additionally, Mr. Burnham confirmed the UK government's commitment to commissioning a war memorial honoring hundreds of thousands of Muslim soldiers who served and died with the British Indian Army in World War I and World War II. This project, initiated by Mr. Starmer, is estimated to cost nearly £1 million ($1.33 million).