Lord Ashcroft: “If a good independent came, I’d give him a chance. I’ve given Labour chances”: My focus groups of Muslim voters
Trust is earned, not demanded.
Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For more information on his work, visit
Last month in Birmingham we conducted focus groups among people who will play a decisive part in the next election in constituencies around the country, as they did in the Gorton and Denton by-election: Muslim voters who backed Labour in 2024. They talked about political division, Labour’s record, alternative parties and candidates, and the role of Gaza in their voting decision.
“We’re just the common enemy at the moment”
Many said they found the general political atmosphere difficult and even hostile, and that things had got worse in recent years: “Even though we’ve been here 50 or 60 years, we’re kind of second class. I think there was always discrimination when we were growing up, with skinheads and things, but it was open discrimination. Then it became more subtle, but now it’s open again;” “Whenever something happens in the news they always pick on ‘a Muslim’. They never say if it’s a Sikh or something. They never say a Jewish Epstein. They never say Catholic, or Christian Jimmy Savile. It’s always a Muslim. Why can’t we leave that out? Why can’t we just name them?” “There’s racism and there’s Islamophobia. They’re two different things. There’s an inherent dislike of Muslims and that stems from 911 and ISIS and Osama bin Laden and the tube bombings and everything else. We’re just the common enemy at the moment, and every generation needs a common enemy.” (This was not a universal view; it should be noted: “I don’t think it’s as bad as that. My kids have never experienced racism. My dad did, but my kids haven’t”).
“Someone’s trying to cause serious problems, for different cultures to collide”
There was also a widespread view that politicians and others were deliberately stoking divisions: “I think someone’s trying to cause serious problems, for different cultures to collide. It’s like throwing a bomb, so people are going to argue and start something between different cultures and religions;” “I do think governments are to blame, and politicians. The Nigel Farages of the world and all the rest, Donald Trump, who say ‘it’s OK to be racist, look, I’m racist with you’. And then the flags come out and it’s ‘yeah, I’m just saying what everyone else is thinking’. It’s creating a divide;” “I live in an area that has more flags than when we had the Jubilee. This isn’t from the public. There’s something bigger going on behind. I drive up a street and they’re absolutely in line, as if professionals have come and put them up.”
“They could have been more vocal about what’s going on”
Some thought similar attitudes were on display when it came to the Gaza conflict. In particular, participants cited the …
Trust is earned, not demanded.
Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For more information on his work, visit
Last month in Birmingham we conducted focus groups among people who will play a decisive part in the next election in constituencies around the country, as they did in the Gorton and Denton by-election: Muslim voters who backed Labour in 2024. They talked about political division, Labour’s record, alternative parties and candidates, and the role of Gaza in their voting decision.
“We’re just the common enemy at the moment”
Many said they found the general political atmosphere difficult and even hostile, and that things had got worse in recent years: “Even though we’ve been here 50 or 60 years, we’re kind of second class. I think there was always discrimination when we were growing up, with skinheads and things, but it was open discrimination. Then it became more subtle, but now it’s open again;” “Whenever something happens in the news they always pick on ‘a Muslim’. They never say if it’s a Sikh or something. They never say a Jewish Epstein. They never say Catholic, or Christian Jimmy Savile. It’s always a Muslim. Why can’t we leave that out? Why can’t we just name them?” “There’s racism and there’s Islamophobia. They’re two different things. There’s an inherent dislike of Muslims and that stems from 911 and ISIS and Osama bin Laden and the tube bombings and everything else. We’re just the common enemy at the moment, and every generation needs a common enemy.” (This was not a universal view; it should be noted: “I don’t think it’s as bad as that. My kids have never experienced racism. My dad did, but my kids haven’t”).
“Someone’s trying to cause serious problems, for different cultures to collide”
There was also a widespread view that politicians and others were deliberately stoking divisions: “I think someone’s trying to cause serious problems, for different cultures to collide. It’s like throwing a bomb, so people are going to argue and start something between different cultures and religions;” “I do think governments are to blame, and politicians. The Nigel Farages of the world and all the rest, Donald Trump, who say ‘it’s OK to be racist, look, I’m racist with you’. And then the flags come out and it’s ‘yeah, I’m just saying what everyone else is thinking’. It’s creating a divide;” “I live in an area that has more flags than when we had the Jubilee. This isn’t from the public. There’s something bigger going on behind. I drive up a street and they’re absolutely in line, as if professionals have come and put them up.”
“They could have been more vocal about what’s going on”
Some thought similar attitudes were on display when it came to the Gaza conflict. In particular, participants cited the …
Lord Ashcroft: “If a good independent came, I’d give him a chance. I’ve given Labour chances”: My focus groups of Muslim voters
Trust is earned, not demanded.
Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For more information on his work, visit
Last month in Birmingham we conducted focus groups among people who will play a decisive part in the next election in constituencies around the country, as they did in the Gorton and Denton by-election: Muslim voters who backed Labour in 2024. They talked about political division, Labour’s record, alternative parties and candidates, and the role of Gaza in their voting decision.
“We’re just the common enemy at the moment”
Many said they found the general political atmosphere difficult and even hostile, and that things had got worse in recent years: “Even though we’ve been here 50 or 60 years, we’re kind of second class. I think there was always discrimination when we were growing up, with skinheads and things, but it was open discrimination. Then it became more subtle, but now it’s open again;” “Whenever something happens in the news they always pick on ‘a Muslim’. They never say if it’s a Sikh or something. They never say a Jewish Epstein. They never say Catholic, or Christian Jimmy Savile. It’s always a Muslim. Why can’t we leave that out? Why can’t we just name them?” “There’s racism and there’s Islamophobia. They’re two different things. There’s an inherent dislike of Muslims and that stems from 911 and ISIS and Osama bin Laden and the tube bombings and everything else. We’re just the common enemy at the moment, and every generation needs a common enemy.” (This was not a universal view; it should be noted: “I don’t think it’s as bad as that. My kids have never experienced racism. My dad did, but my kids haven’t”).
“Someone’s trying to cause serious problems, for different cultures to collide”
There was also a widespread view that politicians and others were deliberately stoking divisions: “I think someone’s trying to cause serious problems, for different cultures to collide. It’s like throwing a bomb, so people are going to argue and start something between different cultures and religions;” “I do think governments are to blame, and politicians. The Nigel Farages of the world and all the rest, Donald Trump, who say ‘it’s OK to be racist, look, I’m racist with you’. And then the flags come out and it’s ‘yeah, I’m just saying what everyone else is thinking’. It’s creating a divide;” “I live in an area that has more flags than when we had the Jubilee. This isn’t from the public. There’s something bigger going on behind. I drive up a street and they’re absolutely in line, as if professionals have come and put them up.”
“They could have been more vocal about what’s going on”
Some thought similar attitudes were on display when it came to the Gaza conflict. In particular, participants cited the …
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