Taj Ali is right to acknowledge the misconception that British Muslims are disengaged from democracy or operate as a single voting bloc (Sectarianism? Family voting? No, what British Muslims are doing with their votes is called democracy, 28 April). The evidence, and our experience working with communities across the UK, suggests the opposite.
Muslims in Britain want to vote, and tens of thousands already do so regularly. Polling conducted for the Community Exchange Hub shows levels of political engagement comparable to the wider population, with voters not only following campaigns closely, but also more likely to have direct contact with canvassers during election periods.
Nor do they vote as a bloc. The same research clearly shows that British Muslims prioritise the NHS, the economy and housing above all else – concerns that materially affect their daily lives, families and futures. These are not niche or identity-driven motivations; they are the bread-and-butter issues that have shaped working-class voting behaviour for decades. To suggest otherwise is to misunderstand both the electorate and the moment.
What is also changing is engagement. Through our work at the Adam Foundation and the Community Exchange Hub, we see increasing numbers of British Muslims active within political parties of all hues, engaging not from the margins but within the system itself. Before the last general election, we convened six nationwide hustings in Muslim-majority communities, bringing together MPs and candidates from across the political spectrum with local audiences, demonstrating both the demand for engagement and the appetite for constructive, cross-party dialogue.
This is where part of the answer to the concerns raised by Taj Ali lies. If the challenge is trust, the response is deeper participation. Initiatives that connect communities with policymakers, build leadership confidence and create civic pathways (including structured leadership programmes supporting future public servants) are already helping to turn political interest into meaningful influence.
But engagement alone is not enough. The task is to translate that engagement into turnout. In a democracy, influence belongs to those who show up.
Imran Sanaullah
CEO, Adam Foundation