Trevor Phillips (ECHR) Suspended from the Labour Party

But Muslims are not 'a nation within a nation' they are as diverse as anyone else, just like Catholics.
Trevor Philips agreeing with what "Tommy Robinson" said just gives a green light to racists to carry on with 'othering' people who are not exactly the same as they are.
Perhaps the suspension will give Trevor Philips an opportunity to think about what he said and how it has been heard by ordinary Muslims.

How can we know that "arguably Catholicism has been responsible for as much abuse as Islam." We have little research on that issue.

The extent of abuse within the Catholic Church has become widely recognised as the power of the Church in many communities has diminished. It was the case that children/adults were too scared to speak and if they did, they would rarely be believed or their allegations taken seriously. The recent tv programme on Bishop Peter Ball confirms we're have a long way to go before victims and survivors can be sure the institution won't close ranks against them.

The Church is losing its power to some degree because of the amount of publicity of abuse and also as White British society becomes more secular. That isn't so with the Mosques or the Muslim faith.

He isn’t wrong though. In places like Bradford there is a small nation within a nation and it’s ludicrous to say otherwise. There are areas of mainly Pakistani/ Bangladeshi immigrants and their descendants that happen to be muslim but follow their culture as if still living in their country of origin. Follow their own law and customs even if these customs go against the values and law of the UK. Some of these people never interact with anyone outside of their own community. It’s not Islamaphobia to point this out, in fact it’s nothing to do with Islam.

I don't suppose either Dame Louise Casey or Professor Alex Jay referred to muslims as "a nation within a nation" did they POGS? If they did then they are substantially wrong and just as it would be wrong to assume that all Catholics are involved in the abuse of young boys because some priests are,, it is wrong to assume all Muslims are involved in the abuse and grooming of young women. Yes there was a cultural element but for most Muslims such behaviour is absolutely abhorrent. But it seems it's OK to accuse some people of things because of the religion they practice. Arguably Catholicism has been responsible for as much abuse as Islam. Philips has been Islamaphobic, it's sad but it's true.

Sarah Champion is still a Labour MP

The fact the ' Grooming gangs ' have been found to be from a certain cultural group / religion and saying so is not the domain of Tommy Robinson nor Trevor Phillips it is a ' fact' this is the case.

It is not Trevor Phillips following the words or beliefs of Tommy Robinson it is a case of Trevor Phillips accepting that just because Tommy Robinson said the facts about the Grooming Gangs does NOT make it a lie.

Hells bells there was an Independent Inquiry that states the same, following the warped opinion Trevor Phillips was agreeing with Tommy Robinson therefore Trevor Phillips is some sort of Tommy Robinson follower is so out of order it becomes a ridiculous conspiracy theory.

If the criteria is based on agreement over the facts then Dame Louise Casey, Professor Alex Jay will be aligned with Tommy Robinson too which is ridiculous but the principal applies.

Asked about his assertion that British Muslims were “becoming a nation within a nation” being adopted by far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson, Mr Phillips replied: “As my grandmother says, just because the devil picks up a tune doesn’t mean it is a bad tune.”
It's not only unacceptable it's actually inaccurate Muslims are as diverse in their religious views as Christians. Can you imagine if we used extremist Christians who don't believe in evolution as the standard Christian belief? There would be a huge outcry.

trisher No, it's not alright. Definitely not.

However, I tried to look into the context, in which it was said and understand what he was getting at.

The child grooming gangs were operating in a world of their own and got away with it for so long because the law enforcement ages kept them at arm's lengths, partly because they didn't want to spark racial tension.

Phillips wanted to highlight that this approach was wrong. It's given the likes of Tommy Robinson an excuse for his hateful bile. Phillips should have been more careful with his choice of words. I don't believe for one moment he is actually Islamophobic, but he's given people who are another reason to spout bile. He's also smeared all Muslims with the same accusation.

What did Tommy Robinson say that Trevor agreed with ?

POGS trying to deflect again. Address the issue Is it OK to say Muslims are different and Tommy Robinson is right?

I agree with you Eloethan. I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt because I didn't know what he'd said. However, I looked it up and found out the context and think what he said was inflammatory.

I saw him recently on Question Time and my low opinion of him didn't change. It's easy to make statements that you know will please the majority population and provide a justification for their prejudices.

Many followers of various religions are "different" in the way they conduct their lives. If Muslims are "different"then so, for instance, are Jews, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and the various off-shoots of those religions. Why focus on one group which is already being heavily targeted by some very unpleasant right wing organisations?

Personally, I have very little time for any religion, feeling they are virtually all male-dominated and divisive, but I think it is wrong to continually lump all the members of one religion together and demonise them. I also think I think it is counter-productive because it is likely to create resentment among even those who are more flexible and outward looking in their attitudes and behaviour.

' Just because someone has an amazing record it doesn't mean they are infallible.'
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Well that's a fair and good point to make as we have noted that with Corbyn and anti-semitism.

Everybody will have an opinion obviously but there are voices within the Labour Party who are wondering what actually lies behind this allegation, who reported Trevor Phillips and it' s timing.

This suspension story will either die a death or escalate over the coming days. There is always a question of timing and I must admit to feeling there are pointers as to why now.

I actually looked at his statements about Muslims. They are incredibly judgemental. He regards them as "different"and said apparently agrees with Tommy Robinson Asked about his assertion that British Muslims were “becoming a nation within a nation” being adopted by far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson, Mr Phillips replied: “As my grandmother says, just because the devil picks up a tune doesn’t mean it is a bad tune.”
Just because someone has an amazing record it doesn't mean they are infallible.

I can't describe how lived I was this morning on reading this.
One of the true voices of reason left in this country ( together with Nazir Afzel)
I keep thinking it can't get worse for the Labour Party, and then it does.

Trevor wrote to The Guardian last year saying he couldn’t vote
for labour because of the anti semetism.

The suspension of Trevor Phillips is shocking but sadly unsurprising given the history of Jenny Formby's actions. I find it impossible not to do a compare and contrast with this, the way Alistair Campbell was banished and the way in which anti semitism within the party was denied, minimised and dismissed.
I've read a number of the allegations against TP but can't find any that confirm he made Islamaphobic comments or has Islamophobic beliefs. He's anti racist, opposes oppression wherever he finds it.
The sooner Jenny Formby and her like go, the better the chance the LP can continue.

I fear the hard left have a grip on the LP and until such time that grip can be loosened they’ll never regain power.

ticking I think we know what has happened to the LP ....
The humourless diktats got worse under Corbyn’s ( lack of )
Leadership, until it reached the dizzy lows of present day.Now all they are interested in is how much time they can spend being disapproving about things and proving how PC they are.
Trevor Phillips always ( still does) talk a lot of common sense.

Those who suspended him lack much

Well!

I have always thought he speaks a lot of common sense.
Obviously those who have suspended him lack that quality

I see Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham, who I have a lot of time for, also thinks it’s terrible and will bring the Labour Party into more disrepute. What on earth has happened to Labour?

I have no idea what Jennie Formby is thinking. What I do know is that I know Muslims who are fed up of being thought of as terrorists and/or child abusers and make no excuses for people who just happen to believe in the same religion. Most of them also happen to vote Labour.

Jennie Formby obviously doesn’t

I don't think it's quite so simple as vote counting. I know plenty of Muslims who agree with the kind of views expressed by Trevor Phillips.