Peer Accused of Islamophobia Following Controversial Speech in House of Lords

Lord Pearson of Rannoch has faced backlash after delivering a speech in the House of Lords that has been labeled as “disgusting and outrageous.” During a discussion on government counterterrorism measures, the 82-year-old peer claimed that “radicals” are attempting to “take us over through the power of the womb and the ballot box.” He further asserted that the Muslim population is growing significantly faster than the national average, citing the allowance of multiple wives under sharia law. The remarks have drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, including Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Meral Hussein-Ece, who condemned the speech as “anti-Muslim racist.” The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) and the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) announced their intention to file formal complaints with the House of Lords commissioners for standards, emphasizing the need for accountability regarding Lord Pearson’s conduct. Zara Mohammed, MCB secretary general, described the comments as perpetuating harmful Islamophobic stereotypes that demonize British Muslim communities. She expressed hope that the House of Lords would investigate the matter thoroughly. Recent statistics indicate that 6.5 percent of the population in England and Wales identified as Muslim in 2021, reflecting a notable increase over the past decade. This is not the first time Lord Pearson has faced criticism; he previously suggested that UK Muslim communities harbor “thousands of potential home-grown terrorists.” Having joined the House of Lords in 1990 as a Conservative, he later became a Ukip leader before resigning to sit as a non-affiliated peer.