In an unprecedented diplomatic move, Labour MP Emily Thornberry has conducted a landmark meeting with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), directly contradicting the UK government’s longstanding policy of non-engagement with the organization. The meeting represents the first high-level contact between a senior Labour figure and the Muslim advocacy group in over fifteen years.
Thornberry, who chairs the influential Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Select Committee, met with MCB Public Affairs Manager Lotifa Begum on Wednesday to discuss critical international issues. Their dialogue focused primarily on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine, urgent relief needs, and Britain’s role in upholding global human rights standards.
This engagement holds particular significance given Thornberry’s previous foreign policy positions. The MP had previously advocated for banning imports from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories and pushed for UK recognition of Palestinian statehood months before the government’s official policy shift in September 2025.
The meeting occurs despite the Starmer government’s continued adherence to the Conservative-initiated policy of avoiding official contact with the MCB. This diplomatic distancing began in 2009 when a Labour government suspended relations after an MCB official endorsed Palestinians’ “right of resistance” during Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.
The MCB, representing over 500 affiliated organizations including mosques, educational institutions, local councils, and professional networks, has been systematically excluded from government dialogue across multiple administrations. Middle East Eye reported in July 2024 that officials blocked the council from participating in an Islamophobia definition working group and ignored communications during widespread far-right riots.
Previous attempts to bridge this diplomatic divide have met with resistance. Cabinet minister Sir Stephen Timms faced reprimand from Labour leadership in January 2025 for attending an MCB event, highlighting the party’s strict enforcement of its non-engagement policy.
The meeting signals a potential shift in parliamentary attitudes toward Muslim representation in Britain, though government policy remains unchanged. Middle East Eye has reached out to Thornberry for additional commentary on the implications of this breakthrough dialogue.