BARONESS WARSI has been appointed Britain’s first Minister for Faith and Communities in the recent Cabinet reshuffle.
It was widely reported that Baroness Warsi was unhappy at being moved from her previous position as Chairman of the Conservative Party but she made a public statement expressing satisfaction about her new position.
“For the last two-and-a-half years I’ve been making the case for faith and the importance of recognising the role of communities in making us a strong society,” she said.
“I’m delighted to be taking up these issues in a Ministerial role and look forward to working with Eric Pickles, his Ministerial team and across Government in this important and sometimes challenging area.”
Baroness Warsi will attend Cabinet in her new role although not as a full member. One of the Muslim peer’s new roles is in the Ministry of Communities and Local Government and the other is in the Foreign Office.
There is speculation that the new appointment is designed to pour oil on troubled waters at a time when the Government is being taken to the European Court of Human Rights over alleged cases of religious discrimination and when there is a good deal of unhappiness among members of all faiths at plans to introduce same-sex marriage.
Lord Carey has joined those who have criticised David Cameron for failing to align the Government’s submission to the European Court of Human Rights with the statement he made in the House of Commons supporting the right of Christians to wear crosses.
“David Cameron has turned the value of tolerance on its head,” said Dr Carey.
“Only two months ago he championed the right of Christians to wear crosses. Yet at the same time he was making that statement, his lawyers were drafting a legal submission to Strasbourg which opposes the rights of all these Christians.”
Baroness Warsi will be shadowed by Stephen Timms.