The Crescent and the Commons

Featuring interviews from across the political spectrum, a groundbreaking exploration of how British Muslims embrace national identity and assert their political views against establishment smears. British politics and media today are dominated by the narrative that multiculturalism has failed, leaving extremism, segregation and sectarianism in its wake. At its heart is the idea that Muslims acting as Muslims pose a fundamental threat to British values and culture. But little is really understood about British Muslims, their aspirations and their varied politics locally and nationally. Imran Mulla and John Holmwood look behind the scenes, drawing on forensic reporting and exclusive interviews to explore the rise of Muslim politicians across the spectrum. Who are they? What are their beliefs? What does their participation in political life mean for the future of Britain? Exploding political myths, they show how commentators and government institutions have collaborated to attack successful Muslims. They reveal the largely untold story of the pro-Gaza independents, elected to parliament at the 2024 general election; chronicle how Muslims have reshaped the left as the two-party system collapses; and explore their often unexpected presence on the right. Muslim integration is happening organically, even against a campaign to undermine it. The Crescent and the Commons paints a vibrant picture of the new Muslim politics: diverse, democratic and profoundly British. Explores the recent rise of British Muslim politics specifically in the context of an establishment war on multiculturalism. A seasoned academic teams up with a young journalist to paint a picture of modern Muslims participating in UK public life, sometimes in unexpected ways. Draws on interviews with MPs, advisors, schoolteachers and activists and documents the success of Muslim politicians across the spectrum–from Labour to Reform.