PRESS RELEASE
Today, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has launched a list of cross-party pledges for candidates running in the upcoming local elections, to be held in England on Thursday, 4th May. The MCB is urging candidates to consider endorsing these pledges ahead of engaging Muslim voters.
The five pledges aim to promote a diverse and inclusive society, tackle Islamophobia, address the cost-of-living crisis, challenge inequalities in health, housing, and employment, and invest in young people.
Speaking about the pledges, Zara Mohammed, Secretary General of the MCB said:
“It is vital that everyone engages in the democratic process; casting their vote in the upcoming local elections and ensuring their voice is heard on the issues that matter.
“Given the many challenges Muslim communities face, the most pressing of which are detailed in the MCB’s pledges, it is essential that candidates engage local Muslim communities and commit to addressing these issues if elected.”
The first pledge calls for candidates to recognise and celebrate the diversity of the country, reject divisive politics and demonisation of communities. The second pledge seeks meaningful action against Islamophobia, a pervasive problem that negatively impacts Muslim communities and society as a whole. The third pledge aims to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, especially for the most vulnerable in our society, and support local faith institutions.
The fourth pledge focuses on challenging inequalities in health, housing, and employment, which the pandemic has revealed to be more pronounced in certain communities. The fifth pledge calls for investing in young people and their future wellbeing and employment prospects.
Mohammed added: “These pledges are important in tackling key issues impacting Muslim communities and will resonate with the wider population. We hope candidates will see the value in endorsing these pledges and working towards creating a more inclusive and fair society for all.”
The MCB also encourages all Muslim voters to engage with their candidates and ask them to commit to these pledges, along with any additional issues that are important to their local communities. The MCB will be monitoring the election results and working with elected representatives to ensure they fulfill their commitments to the pledges.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- For any media enquiries, contact: [email protected]
- The MCB’s cross-party Local Election 2023 pledges can be found here.
- The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) is the UK’s largest and most diverse Muslim umbrella organisation with membership spanning national, regional local organisations, mosques, charities and professional networks. It is independent, cross-sectarian and democratic with the leadership team accountable to the membership.