Harry's Place

Paul Goodman writes:

MPs met on Monday to discuss the future of an All Party Group on Islamophobia.  What took place sounds complex (according to reports) but was essentially simple.  One body of Parliamentarians – all Conservative – voted for Engage to be removed as the secretariat to the group.  Another body (mostly Labour) voted against the proposal.

[...]

Three very senior Labour MPs voted not to dismiss Engage – Jack Straw, Sadiq Khan and Stephen Timms.  Timms is a member of Miliband’s front bench team, and no reference to him is complete without noting that he survived a terrible murder attempt by an Islamist fanatic.  So’s Khan, but he’s much more senior – a member of the Shadow Cabinet, a former Communities and Local Government Minister and – very recently – an intemperate critic of the Prime Minister’s Munich speech.  Miliband didn’t back Khan’s stance then.  So what’s his view now?  Does he think that his Shadow Justice Secretary should back so controversial a venture?  What’s the Labour Party’s view of Engage?

Very good questions.

For background on iEngage, start here.