Equalities minister appears alongside barred Muslim group

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Sir Stephen Timms, the equalities minister, faced criticism for attending a panel event with representatives of the Muslim Council of Britain, a group the UK Government has long refused to engage with. The incident underscores internal conflicts over government policy on contacting groups accused of extremist links, with officials reaffirming no change to the non-engagement stance despite Timms’s appearances.

Sir Stephen Timms, the newly appointed equalities minister under Andy Burnham’s leadership, came under scrutiny for participating in an event alongside representatives of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), a group that the UK Government has explicitly barred from engagement. The appearance at the panel took place in December 2025 during a conference organised by the Labour Muslim Network, despite prior warnings against such associations.

The government has maintained a policy of non-engagement with the MCB since 2009, citing past allegations that some members held extremist views. The MCB denies any such links. This longstanding stance remains in place under the current administration, with officials reaffirming the commitment not to alter this approach.

Sir Stephen Timms, who serves as the Member of Parliament for East Ham and was acting in his capacity as a minister within the Department for Work and Pensions at the time, took part in a panel titled “Islamophobia is the New Normal.” His participation followed an earlier instance, approximately six months prior, when he attended the MCB’s annual leadership dinner. Following that event, Timms was reportedly reminded of his obligation to adhere to the government’s collective responsibility and non-engagement policy concerning the group.

When questioned about his decision to appear at the December panel event, Sir Stephen stated that the policy on engagement with the MCB was not discussed in advance and that he did not attend in an official ministerial capacity. He emphasized that his attendance should not be interpreted as the government reversing its longstanding position.

Shadow communities secretary Sir James Cleverly criticised Timms’s actions, asserting that he had previously been reprimanded by Labour leader Keir Starmer for the earlier engagement with the MCB, yet no punitive measures followed the recent incident. Cleverly suggested that rather than being disciplined, Timms was instead promoted to a ministerial position within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

A government spokesperson reiterated that while meaningful engagement with faith and belief groups is important, the non-engagement policy with the Muslim Council of Britain remains unchanged. They confirmed that ministers have no plans to meet with representatives from the MCB.

Timms’s association with the issue carries additional gravity, given his personal history; in 2010, he survived a stabbing attack by a radicalised Islamist during a constituency surgery.

The episode highlights ongoing tensions within the Labour Party and the wider government regarding engagement with faith-based organisations linked to allegations of extremism, as well as the balance between collective ministerial responsibility and individual actions of officials.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.