Overview
- A coordinated letter from 27 MPs, submitted on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, asks the Equality and Human Rights Commission to launch a formal investigation into alleged Islamophobia within Reform UK.
- The signatories include 26 Labour MPs and one independent, Diane Abbott, and the letter argues Reform UK may have breached duties under the Equality Act 2010 and lacks adequate internal complaints and disciplinary procedures.
- MPs cite named senior figures and specific examples dating back to 2014, including Nigel Farage's remarks about a mass Ramadan event in Trafalgar Square and a 2025 PMQs exchange about the burka, as evidence of discriminatory rhetoric.
- Reform UK has defended its comments and said it will not be intimidated, while the EHRC has acknowledged it receives complaints regularly but has not announced any formal statutory investigation.
- The MPs warned the alleged conduct has real-world consequences for British Muslims, citing government data that 45% of religious hate crimes target Muslims and urging the watchdog to assess risks to safety and social cohesion.