Ministers have expressed reservations about the adoption of an official definition of ‘Islamophobia’, following engagement with the National Secular Society.

This year, former deputy prime minister and communities secretary Angela Rayner appointed a working group to create a definition of ‘anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia’.

The plans have been broadly criticised since their announcement, over fears the definition will inflame community tensions by restricting free speech and giving ‘special status’ to one religious group.

Rayner’s successor as communities secretary, Steve Reed, has now told the Telegraph he will reject the definition if it would restrict freedom of expression.

He said free speech “must come first” and people “don’t have a right not to be offended”.

He added: “I’m not going to bring in blasphemy laws by the backdoor.”

The working group is chaired by Dominic Grieve, who wrote the foreword to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims’ report on defining Islamophobia. The APPG definition is widely opposed by free speech campaigners.

The NSS met with the working group earlier this year to share its concerns and has continued to engage with stakeholders.

It wrote to Reed last month, as well as the new faith minister Miatta Fahnbulleh.

It said: “While we share the Government’s determination to challenge anti-Muslim bigotry, we strongly caution against embedding any definition which undermines freedom of expression and risks weakening, rather than strengthening, social cohesion.”

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood has also expressed concerns about the definition.

She said there is a risk that Muslims could be seen to be getting special treatment, which could “increase hatred rather than deal with it”.

The working group is expected to report its recommendations to Reed next week.

NSS: ‘Islamophobia’ definition would entrench division and weaken free speech

NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: “We welcome Steve Reed and Shabana Mahmood’s recent statements on the potential dangers of the ‘Islamophobia’ definition.

“The task of building stronger, more cohesive communities requires fostering trust, understanding, and a consistent application of existing protections.

“Introducing a definition of ‘Islamophobia’ would achieve the opposite, entrenching division and weakening the right to free expression upon which healthy community relations depend.”