Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledges to ‘fight anti-Muslim hatred’ following Edinburgh attack

The Prime Minister has said he wants Muslims to feel safe in the UK, amid criticism that there was no Cobra meeting after five people were attacked in Edinburgh.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Keir Starmer insisted the Government would “fight anti-Muslim hatred”.

His comments came in response to Independent MP Shockat Adam, who criticised the lack of a Cobra meeting, following a series of attacks in Edinburgh, which are suspected to have an anti-Muslim motivation.

Lewis Hawkes, a 36-year-old man from Edinburgh, appeared in court on Monday, charged with five counts of attempted murder “aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection”.

Hawkes did not submit a plea during a private hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Mr Adam said: “My children, like a million others, are kicking every ball of the England World Cup campaign, but I, as a parent, are really concerned about their security in this country, along with other Muslim parents.

“Let me explain why. When a Sikh lady got raped in Warsaw, the perpetrator repeatedly called an effing Muslim bitch. Whilst there was no condemnation from the minister from the dispatch box, no outcry from members in this chamber who openly call out these matters when the perpetrators are of a different colour.

“When we had the Unite the Kingdom march, calling openly for the expulsion of Muslims in this country. There was no ministerial statement condemning such statements.

“When this weekend we had five members of the Muslim community stabbed on the streets of Edinburgh, there was no ministerial statement of condemnation, no Cobra meeting, and no solidarity.

“Can I ask the Prime Minister, what does this silence say to my children as they wait with bated breath for Harry Kane to bring it home?”

Starmer replied: “I want his children to feel safe in this country, and I will do everything to make sure that they are.

“We will all fight anti-Muslim hatred with everything that we have got. An attack on one, is an attack on all of us.”

Similar criticism was later raised in the House of Lords, with Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Hussein-Ece saying Islamophobia is becoming “normalised”.

She said: “It was very disappointing after the latest attack last week, there was no statement, there was no Cobra meeting, and very little from the media at a time when British Muslims are feeling increasingly fearful and worried about their safety.

“So, does the minister accept that what we need now is strong leadership to tackle this, and not platitudes or retweet?”

Communities minister Lord Lemos said there had been a statement from the Prime Minister and First Minister of Scotland following the incident.

He added: “I don’t think I would accept the characterisation that there is in any sense a lack of response to this.

“We do understand that this problem of anti-Muslim hostility is getting worse, we do take it seriously, and when incidents like these occur, we will want to see the full force of the law.”