Inter Faith Network Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Lord Liddle
Main Page: Lord Liddle (Labour - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Liddle's debates with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Inter Faith Network
Lord Liddle Excerpts(9 months ago)
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Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
I cannot say. Reviews like that are carried out by the Home Office. I will certainly take that back and ask the question but, as far as I know, there are no plans to look at it again.
Lord Liddle (Lab)
Does the Minister think that the Government’s action in this case is proportionate, given the huge importance in our society of interfaith dialogue and the fact that one person seems to be spoiling the show? Surely the Secretary of State would have a broader vision than that.
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)
The Secretary of State carefully considered the implications of this and of ceasing the funding, including the potential impact on the Inter Faith Network itself and interfaith relations in the United Kingdom. The noble Lord is absolutely right: interfaith work is valuable, but there are very many more positive examples of thriving initiatives across the country that bring people together. That does not require us to use taxpayers’ money in a way that legitimises the influence of organisations such as the MCB.