Andy Burnham meets Muslim leaders and takes veiled swipe at Nigel Farage: 'Completely unacceptable!'

Andy Burnham has met with Muslim community leaders and accused his political rivals of using "completely unacceptable language".

Mr Burnham, who was raised Catholic, convened his first meeting with faith leaders in Downing Street since becoming Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner.

Speaking around the Cabinet table, Mr Burnham said: "We want to counter any form of hatred, discrimination, Islamophobia, wherever we find it and work with you to bring forward an agenda that says that to the community.

"And I think perhaps the way the political debate is at times, Angela referenced some of the positions of opposition parties to us anyway, they are completely unacceptable.

"And some of the language that they use about the community is unacceptable.

"We just need to find ways with you to demonstrate that more and more.

"And actually, to talk about the positive contribution of the community to British life in every way."

Labour MPs have accused Mr Farage of Islamophobia throughout his political career.

A complaint was lodged by 26 Labour MPs to the Equality & Human Rights Commission earlier this year.

Afzal Khan, whose Manchester Rusholme's seat neighbours Makerfield and Ashton-under-Lyne, said: "Reform UK have consistently failed to tackle their growing Islamophobia problem."

The complaint included Mr Farage's call to ban a mass Muslim prayer event in Trafalgar Square.

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Welsh Labour MSs also criticised Reform UK for forcing a debate on banning the burka in the Senedd last week.

Reform UK rejects all accusations of Islamophobia.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister also spoke about Labour's proposal to build a Muslim war memorial at the cost of almost £1million.

Around 400,000 Muslims fought for the British Indian Army in World War One, with 600,000 serving in the Second World War.

Mr Burnham is also hoping to appoint an adviser on Muslim affairs.

Concluding his remarks, Mr Burnham said: "I look to be a Prime Minister that is alongside the community, visibly so, very much sending that message particularly to younger Muslims across Britain, that this is their country, this country is behind them, working to support them, opening up opportunity, all of those things are very much things I want to focus on in my time in office."

However, the Prime Minister's call for action came after Ms Rayner faced fury for her push to establish an Islamophobia definition.

Opponents have warned that it establishing a definition could undermine freedom of speech and outlaw legitimate criticism of Islam.

Meanwhile, supporters argue that a formal definition would help tackle anti-Muslim hatred and discrimination.

Home Office data shows hate crimes targeting both Muslim and Jewish people have risen sharply over the past year, with religious hate crime incidents against Muslims spiking in September 2025.

The department said the increase coincided with protests and public disorder.

More than 100,000 people attended an anti-immigration rally organised by Tommy Robinson in London at the time.