Have reflected bit on the Phillips suspension
The problem with Labour is that trust in their disciplinary processes have been so decimated by internal factionalism that the motives of everything they do is rightly questioned - tragically, Labour has lost trust on anti-racism
The problem with Labour is that trust in their disciplinary processes have been so decimated by internal factionalism that the motives of everything they do is rightly questioned - tragically, Labour has lost trust on anti-racism
I find Trevor Phillips to be provocative and sometimes interesting and sometimes quite obviously straying into Liddle-esque polemical use of racist tropes and conspiracy theories. e.g. I find this article pretty gross thesun.co.uk/news/4357747/t… 
I think there are legitimate questions about the effects religious conservatism has on children (that's why I am helping out @PNahamu which looks at this in the Jewish community). But also we as a society are still deeply insensitive to anti-muslim bigotry.
Many Muslims I have spoken to over the past year as I delved into this issue more feel their concerns are ignored and people (like Phillips and the other Phillips) seem to get away with saying things about Muslims which would not be acceptable in respect of other communities.
To end where I started, sadly I don't think Labour have the moral credibility to be at the forefront of any particular fight against racism, and therefore suspending Phillips will and has backfired, even though he has in my view a case to answer.
Some more examples in this thread - I don't agree that everything in the thread would necessarily amount to Islamophobia, but it is pushing a view of Muslims which foregrounds their 'otherness' and 'non-Britishness', which is bound to lead to racism
Free speech does play a part. I think with Phillips his is a difficult case because he does say some interesting things, even if offensive and I don't agree with them, and he also does stray into anti-Muslim bigotry, and he has deep relevant experience e.g. at Runnymead and EHRC
Q for Labour is whether this is part of a strategic effort to battle Islamophobia - which is necessary (though I don't think as urgent as in the Conservatives) - or factional point scoring. We can't be sure which opens up a defence for Phillips which he might otherwise not have
