Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Faith-based fund raising in the UK?

The latest news about Labour's funding suggests that society and politics in the the UK are changing. The article also includes some references to a controversy about schools in Britain that does not involve the issue of grammar schools that has created some division within the Conservative Party.

I'd ask students to identify and explain the political issues discussed in this article.


Labour given £1m donation

"The Labour party has been given £1m by an Iranian-born industrialist who has been bankrolling two of the government's flagship school academies set up to promote Christian values.

Khayami (with shovel) at the ground breaking for the Sheffield Park Academy.


"The donation from multi-millionaire Mahmoud Khayami, a prominent Muslim who fled Iran after the fall of the Shah, is one of the largest received by Labour...

"Last night Tony Blair said: 'I would like to thank Mahmoud Khayami for making such a generous donation to the Labour party and for supporting our values of economic prosperity coupled with social justice.

"'Mahmoud Khayami is a committed promoter of inter-religious understanding among Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities in the UK and abroad and is widely known for his widespread philanthropic work.'

"Khayami's relationship with Labour was fostered by the party's newly appointed chair of its faith task force, lobbyist Anthony Bailey - an influential Roman Catholic and ULT board member whose connections stretch from the House of Saud to the Vatican...

"Khayami said: 'Over this last 10 years I have been proud to support the Labour party led by Tony Blair. I have witnessed at first hand the very real difference that this Labour government has made to communities across Britain with its focus on economic growth, raising people's aspiration and the delivery of social justice.'...

"Khayami said: 'Over this last 10 years I have been proud to support the Labour party led by Tony Blair. I have witnessed at first hand the very real difference that this Labour government has made to communities across Britain with its focus on economic growth, raising people's aspiration and the delivery of social justice.'"


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