Grooming gangs will be given “impunity” to carry out their crimes if a new definition of Islamophobia is passed, the Tories have warned.

Shadow Equalities Minister Claire Coutinho warned that the definition risks enhancing the “culture of censorship” by giving particular groups a “special status” over others.

She suggested Labour is only pushing ahead with the new definition to fend off threats by pro-Gaza candidates at the next election.

New housing and communities secretary, Steve Reed, has accepted the responsibility of providing a definition after Angela Rayner was forced to quit over her tax affairs.

In 2021, Mr Reed wrote to all Labour local authority leaders, urging them to provide a definition of Islamophobia written up by MPs.

Ms Coutinho told The Times: “Labour are doubling down by introducing a state-sanctioned definition of Islamophobia, which will intensify the culture of censorship that allowed the grooming gangs to carry out their crimes with impunity.

“An official definition of Islamophobia, specifically designed to be adopted by our institutions and public services, will shut down difficult but necessary conversations about grooming gangs, gender equality, and even Islamist extremism.

“It would create a special status for one group above others, which risks further breeding resentment and making our community cohesion problems worse.”

More to follow…