A Conservative government would cut ties with the leading representative of the Muslim Council of Britain. David Cameron said that his party “won’t do formal things” with the Muslim Council of Britain unless the organisation distanced itself from Daud Abdullah, its deputy secretary-general.
The Labour Government cut ties with the council in March last year after Mr Abdullah signed the Istanbul Declaration in “solidarity” with the Palestinians after the Israeli bombing of Gaza. Relations were however restored in January this year.
In an interview with Ahmed Versi, editor of Muslim News, Mr Cameron said: “We should have a very positive relationship with the Muslim community and representatives of the Muslim community. There are other representative bodies. We would be fully engaged with them.”
Update: See also ENGAGE, 26 March 2010