‘The right isn’t the same as the far right’: what Muslim Tories think about leadership race
We asked Muslim Conservative members at the annual party conference how they felt about Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick, Tom Tugendhat and James Cleverly
–
Muslim Conservatives attending the party’s annual conference this week said they were optimistic about the party’s future following its worst general election defeat in history.
Thousands of members gathered in Birmingham for the first Tory conference since the party was ousted from power in July. The event has been dominated by discussions around the leadership race to replace Rishi Sunak, with hopefuls Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat attending various fringe events to present their vision and win over supporters. Of the frontrunners, Badenoch has already made headlines by suggesting that maternity pay in Britain is “excessive”, while Jenrick on Tuesday elicited gasps by telling the audience at the main conference stage that he had given his daughter the middle name Thatcher.
A poll conducted by Savanta for Hyphen earlier this year suggested that just 12% of Muslims who were intending to vote planned to do so for the Conservatives. We asked Muslim party members in Birmingham why they joined, what changes they hope to see from the party over the next five years and who they are backing in the leadership contest.
Why did you join the party?
Sam Akhtar, a councillor in Wokingham and a director of Conservative Friends of Pakistan, joined the party in 2018, while Theresa May was prime minister. “I was on the way to work when I opened up the Metro newspaper and saw a picture of Sajid Javid,” he said. “I saw someone who looked like me, and I thought: ‘Wow, someone from my sort of background has become home secretary — I must get involved.’
“I’m from a background where my parents owned a shop, so I’m very pro-business, pro fewer grants from the state. I believe in people building themselves up, working hard, and reaping the rewards of that, so the Conservative party was a natural home for me.”
What does being a Conservative mean to you?
Haq Nawaz joined the party in the 1980s. He is now a councillor in Cambridgeshire and an executive board member of the Conservative Muslim Forum.
Being a Tory “means I can take part in local and national activities, have an input, and make a difference to the general perception of the Muslim and Pakistani community,” he said.
Zarmeena Quraishi, who came a distant second to Labour as the Tory parliamentary candidate for Nottingham South this year, said: “When it comes to my cultural values and my Islamic values, the party that matches those the closest is the Conservative party. The party believes in family unity the same way we as Muslims do — it’s the heart of everything, and if you get that right, you get society right.
“The party stands for low taxes, working hard, and not relying on the state. As Muslims we do work hard. We are not just taxi drivers and factory workers — we are good at running businesses, and we are entrepreneurs.”
The Conservatives suffered a heavy defeat at the recent general election. How are you feeling about the future of the party?
Nawaz said: “We have had quite a drubbing, and it is not surprising. However, I view every threat as an opportunity. This is an opportunity to regroup, to reform, and unite the party. I’m very, very optimistic that we will do that.
“We need fresh, radical policies that resurrect the more traditional conservative values of a low-tax economy, free trade, no wasteful wars, freedom of religion — that’s very important — and looking after everybody, not just one section of the community.”
What would you like to see from the party in the next five years?
Nayaz Qazi is director of Conservative Friends of India and joined the party in 2010. “The role of the party now is to be a strong opposition and hold the Labour government to account,” he said.
“The biggest challenge we have at the moment is the cost of living. More needs to be done on that. We will potentially see the economy go the wrong way under Labour. We have seen how their policies are already affecting the elderly. I think it’s very important that we put forward alternative policies and priorities, so that after the next five years, when we have an election, we are ready to seize the opportunity and move into government to deliver for Britain.”
Siama Qadar, who joined the party in 2009 and lives in Lewisham, south London, said: “In the next five years, I’d like to see the Conservatives uniting together as one true party that believes in one nation and supports each other whilst respecting and bringing with us all other communities and underserved groups.
“We need to renew our focus on our core principles and values and fight for what we stand for — investing in high-quality education, skills training and financial literacy for all, reducing inequality with high economic growth, while fostering a society that empowers individuals, especially women.”
What do you make of recent comments by Sayeeda Warsi that the party has moved too far to the right?
Nawaz said: “I have no doubt that there will be a number of Conservatives feeling that way right now. However, moving to the right is not the same as the far right, who are thugs and criminals. People tend to associate the right wing with racism and Islamophobia, but there is an element of that throughout the spectrum of politics, including in the Labour party.
“I have an enormous amount of respect for Sayeeda. She has stood and fought for her principles and what she believes in. However, I do think that it is best to remain within the system and fight from within, than to get out and not be counted and be frowned upon. I have had many differences, some big differences, but I have chosen to stay within the party and eventually I have found my niche.”
Akhtar said: “The party has moved a bit more to the right in recent years. I’d quite like to see it move back to the centre. My politics are centre-right — I think that is how we win elections, and I think moving back to the centre would help us engage more with our Muslim community.”
Who would you like to see lead the party next?
Most of the members who spoke to Hyphen were largely reluctant to be drawn on their choice for leader, but all had clear ideas on what the winning candidate needed to do. Asif Mehmood, from Birmingham, who has been a member of the party since 2018, said: “The party is in trouble right now. The next leader needs to set a new, clear direction. When Boris Johnson was the leader, the Brexit campaign was at the top of his agenda, and we saw that everywhere. He took a bold decision — there were no ifs, no buts, it was that we needed to get Brexit done.
“This is the kind of leader we need now. If they could take a clear direction on something like the immigration policy, I think they can pick the Tory party up again, and in the next general election we will return to power.”
Quraishi was similarly guarded. “I am still on the fence,” she said. “We need to be really careful about who we pick as our next leader, because the public have lost faith and trust in the party. We need a leader who is going to restore that faith in every community, not just one. That’s who I’m looking for.”
Qadar said: “All four candidates are unique in their own ways, bringing valuable perspectives. I stand with the candidate that will unite the party with integrity and honesty, clear, empathic and honest leadership, vision and a deep passion for public service for our Great Britain.”
Nawaz, though, said Cleverly had impressed him. The shadow home secretary appealed for his party to be more “normal” on the final day of the conference on Wednesday.
“It is a little bit premature even now, but I think I am inclined to someone who appears more statesmanlike, who has the authenticity of an experience, and who may be a unifier,” said the Fenland District councillor. “I think James Cleverly probably offers the best chance for the party to move forward at this stage.”
Topics
Get the Hyphen weekly
Subscribe to Hyphen’s weekly round-up for insightful reportage, commentary and the latest arts and lifestyle coverage, from across the UK and Europe
This form may not be visible due to adblockers, or JavaScript not being enabled.