A survey of Conservative Party members has revealed the extent of 'anti-Muslim sentiment' amongst the party’s grassroots.

The polling was commissioned as part of HOPE not hate’s submission to the ‘Conservative Party Inquiry on all forms of racism including Islamophobia’.

47% said that Islam was generally a threat to the British way of life, and 57% reported negative attitudes to Muslims, with 21% registering a very negative attitude.

Of those that considered Islam a threat, 50% agreed with the statement 'Islam breeds intolerance for free speech and calls for violent actions against those who mock, criticise or depict the religion in ways they believe are offensive'

41% felt 'Muslims don't want to integrate' and 41% agreed that 'Islam promotes discrimination of and the physical abuse of women, for example the grooming of white British girls’

24% felt that Muslim populations are growing at a rate many times faster than non-Muslim and will replace white British people.

There was a strong belief in anti-Muslim conspiracy theory, with 58% thinking it was true that there were no-go areas in Britain where Sharia law dominates and non-Muslims cannot enter.

In addition, 56% thought multiculturalism has had a negative effect on British culture and 50% thought that having a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures has undermined British culture.

Speaking after the submission of the findings to the Inquiry , HOPE not hate CEO Nick Lowles said, “The Conservative Party has to face up to the widespread anti-Muslim prejudice in its ranks if it ever hopes to eradicate the problem. It’s dispiriting that HOPE not hate has to again call attention to the prejudiced idea held by many within the Tory rank and file that there is a conflict between being Muslim and being British. 

"We have also documented further instances of publicly expressed anti-Muslim sentiment from members, activists and councillors and even MPs. It’s difficult to argue against the many proofs of the problem, the real question is how bold the Conservatives will be in taking action. We have submitted this evidence to the inquiry in a spirit of constructive criticism, and so hope the Conservatives grasp the nettle and pull out the racism in the party right down to the roots."

Respondents were also able to answer 'Other', with 4% thus specifying their own reasons, which included answers such as:

"All of the above."

"Cruel & barbaric halal not appropriate in British society."

"Islam seeks to replace British culture with its own."

"Not compatible with British society and never has been.”

57% of members had a negative attitude to Muslims, with 21% registering a very negative attitude. In comparison, just 3% felt very negatively about other religious minorities (Jews, Hindus & Sikhs)

When asked from what you have seen or heard, do you think there is or is not a problem of Islamophobia or racism towards Muslims within the Conservative Party? 79% said it is not a problem and only 8% said it was a problem.

Just over half of Tory members (55%) think that “on the whole, immigration into Britain has been a good thing for the country”, some way off the 69% of the general public who think the same.

Only 7% support the removal of statues of historical figures with links to slavery from British towns and cities, and of these, only 2% support it strongly. By contrast, 84% oppose the removal of statues, with 66% strongly opposing it. (CF, HnH national polling found that 51% of people believed that statues of slave traders should be removed from public squares and put in museums.)

The sample size was 1,213 adults (Conservative members). Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th - 16th July 2020 by YouGov. The survey was carried out online.