Tony Blair: “A close and productive partnership”

Page 24
Q-News, Issue 362
April 2005

Tony Blair knows it’s been a tough few years, but he’s confident about what Labour has achieved for British Muslims and what can still be done if the electorate delivers him a historic third term. Q-News talks to the Prime Minister about earning the public trust, his vision for the future of Britain and his fear that politicians here, like in America, will use faith simply to get votes.


Q-News: Are the concerns of the Muslim community different to those of wider society?

There are many issues, like the economy, health, education and security which are of concern to everybody, whatever their background or faith.  And I believe Labour has a strong record on all these issues and clear plans for the future to ensure that hardworking families are better off.

However, I also believe that the Muslim community has specific concerns, often related to faith identity, which it is important that we recognise and address.  It’s something we have taken seriously over the last eight years.  So legislation we introduced to tackle hate crimes covers both religiously and racially aggravated offences.  And despite opposition from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, we believe that it is right to make incitement to religious hatred a specific criminal offence.  It is also right that we offer people protection not only from racial discrimination but religious discrimination too.

Labour has promoted policies like state support for Muslim faith schools, providing support and advice at Mecca to British Muslims performing the Hajj and reforming stamp duty so that financial institutions can offer Islamic mortgages.  This will be of interest to many Muslim families.


Q-News: British Muslims - traditional Labour voters - are disillusioned and angry with the Labour  party. Is this justified?

I know that the last few years has been a difficult time in the relationship between the Government and British Muslims, primarily because of the decision to take military action in Iraq. I respect those who took a different view to the Government. But I also hope that whatever people thought about the original conflict they can agree that we should, as the UN resolutions say, allow the Iraqis to determine their own future in an independent, peaceful and democratic Iraq.

So yes, there have been differences and disagreements. But I also believe that the Muslim community is aware that this Labour Government has probably done more than any other to address the needs and concerns of British Muslims, and recognise them as an integral and invaluable part of life in this country.

As I said, Labour has introduced policies and legislation that acknowledges and recognises the importance of faith identity.  And as a Party committed to social justice, we have focussed on areas such as help for hardworking families through the minimum wage and tax credits, working to improve school standards, the provision of housing and regeneration of our cities which are of vital importance to many in the Muslim community.

In the end, I hope that although life is still a struggle for many families, people recognise that we have made a lot of progress in many areas.  I also hope that they recognise that despite difficulties, we have always strived to develop a close and constructive partnership with the Muslim community.


Q-News: Has New Labour given up on the concept of an ethical foreign policy?

No we have not. The promotion of democracy and human rights remain cornerstones of our foreign policy. We are, for example, the second largest contributors to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and to the International Red Cross.  The Government directly assists human rights projects in countries such as Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain and Indonesia. And we have actively encouraged democratic reforms in Turkey and are its strongest supporter for accession to the European Union.

Q-News readers will remember that we led the intervention in Kosovo to protect the lives of Muslims in that country. In Afghanistan we have seen a real improvement in human rights since the overthrow of the Taleban. And controversial though our intervention in Iraq was, we can all support the elections and democratic process now underway.


Q-News: When New Labour took power in 1997 it promised to harness the abilities of British Muslims.  Are you satisfied with what you have so far done?

There are many areas where I want to see more progress. It should be in the nature of this job that you are never complacent, always want to do more and do it faster.  But I also think if you look back, you can also see how far we have come since 1997.  For example, there wasn’t a single Muslim MP or Member of the House of Lords.  Labour has changed that. Now we have Muslims in the House of Lords and the first Muslim MPs, both of whom are Labour.  And having selected further Muslim candidates in seats that Labour holds, I hope and expect to see further Labour Muslim MPs elected on May 5th.

In many professions and jobs, of course, British Muslims already make a tremendous contribution. The improvements we have seen in our health service, for example, have been greatly helped by NHS staff from Muslim backgrounds. And I am proud that the last few years has seen the appointment of the first British Muslim Ambassadors.  We have an increasing number of Muslims in the civil service and the police. That’s real progress but we now need to see more appointments at a senior level.

We have made a start but we know that there is still more to do. I want to see a country where there is no barrier to progress and where people get on regardless of background. I want to see British Muslims being given the opportunity to play a full part in this country’s future. Not just because it is right to do so, but because this country cannot afford to waste the talent if any of its people.


Q-News: As more than half of Africa’s population is Muslim would you say that the Africa Commission - in its composition, deliberations and recommendations - reflected this fact?

The work of the Africa Commission is designed to improve the lives of Africans of all faiths.  This Labour Government has worked tirelessly for the promotion of a strong and prosperous Africa and we have made this goal a central theme of our G8 and EU presidencies.  I honestly believe that if we can get the world to act together on the Commission’s recommendations - and this Government is determined to do all it can to achieve this goal - then we can see a decisive shift in the fortunes of the continent and its people, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.


Q-News: Faith is increasingly becoming a public affair in modern Britain. What are your views?

The voluntary sector, including churches, mosques and faith communities, have always played a significant role in social action in Britain - in education, in welfare, in support for so many of the most vulnerable and needy in our society.  Faith communities play a key role in the campaign against international poverty and injustice.  I welcome this activity and believe the role of faith communities in the public realm is important. But at the same time, whilst religion is clearly important at a personal level, I would not want to see politicians in this country using their own faith in the same way as, say, in America.


Q-News: Many people have a mistrust of politicians and political parties.  Is this public apathy justifiable?

It is a challenge for all politicians and political parties.  What we have to do is to make clearer the link between politics and the change people want to see in their lives and their country. For example, without people voting Labour at the last two elections, there would not now be a minimum wage, there wouldn’t be record investment in our schools and hospitals, or low interest rates or two million people in work or 1.5 million more homeowners.  Nor would there be two million fewer pensioners and over 600,000 fewer children living in poverty.

I know there is a lot more for us to do in creating a fairer, more prosperous country but I really believe if people look about their own community, they will see real progress.  This didn’t all happen by accident.  It happened because people voted Labour at the last two elections.  And if people look back at our pledges in 1997 and 2001, they will see that we have delivered.

Q-News: What promises is New Labour making to British people if it wins an unprecedented third term?

I want to build on the progress so far and to accelerate the improvements we are already seeing to widen opportunity.  So, for example, through further investment in the NHS, we will keep improving our health service and continue cutting waits for operations.  We will see more schools across the country modernised. The minimum wage will keep rising.  Help will be given so that one million more people become homeowners.  New powers and 20,000 extra Community Support Officers will help tackle anti-social behaviour. And a strong and stable economy with low inflation, low interest rates and low unemployment will ensure that living standards keep rising, and that we can continue to tackle poverty and invest to improve our schools and hospitals.

In all of these areas, we have detailed and costed programmes. But above all, we want to create a country where barriers to people making a better life for them and their families are removed and where work - not power or privilege - drive opportunity and success. A modern country with first class public services for all. But it will be up to you and the country as a whole whether Britain keeps going forward with Labour or back to the failed and risky policies of the past under the Tories. That will be the real choice at the election.