Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Co-Lead of Progressive Judaism, spoke at the Concordia Forum UK Policy Conference held at Portcullis House in Westminster.

The Concordia Forum is a global platform dedicated to bringing together influential Muslim leaders from diverse backgrounds, fostering collaboration and driving positive change. While its core mission focuses on Muslim leadership, the Forum also engages with leaders from other faiths and backgrounds through specific initiatives, such as its UK Policy Conference.

Rabbi Charley Baginsky was invited to speak at the Concordia Forum UK Policy Conference, hosted at Portcullis House in Westminster with the support of MPs Naz Shah, Afzal Khan, Zubir Ahmed, and Yasmin Qureshi. As the only Jewish leader addressing the conference, her participation highlighted the Forum’s commitment to engaging voices from diverse faiths in discussions on inclusive policymaking.

In her speech on ‘Building Inclusive Policy for a Stronger UK’, which can be read in full below, Rabbi Charley said: “It is an honour to discuss inclusive policies that embrace diversity, ensuring all voices contribute to the nation’s strength. As a British Progressive rabbi, I emphasise the Jewish tradition of inclusion and the immense value of solidarity.

“We must collaborate among faith leaders, policymakers, and civil society to create policies that reflect everyone’s realities, fostering a country that celebrates diversity rather than fearing it.”

The aim of the event was to develop agreed actionable policy recommendations and turn them into a comprehensive white paper, to be distributed to relevant stakeholders and partner organisations, to promote further dialogue and action.

In collaboration with Opinium, the Concordia Forum also produces targeted polling to support key policy insights. This data provides a robust evidence base, strengthening the recommendations and ensuring they reflect broader public views.

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Rabbi Charley Baginsky: Building Inclusive Policy for a Stronger UK

Distinguished guests, colleagues, and friends,

It is an honour to be here today to discuss a subject that is at the heart of a just and democratic society: the creation of inclusive policies that embrace our collective diversity, ensuring that all voices contribute to the strength of our nation. As co-lead of Progressive Judaism and a British rabbi, I stand here as part of a Jewish tradition that has long understood the power of inclusion—not as an abstract ideal but as a moral and practical necessity.

For centuries, Jewish communities in Britain have lived the experience of being both part of and, at times, apart from the national fabric. Our history has taught us the painful cost of exclusion and the immense value of solidarity. Jewish tradition is built on the principles of welcoming the stranger, seeking justice, and standing up for those who are marginalised. As the Torah reminds us, “You shall not oppress the stranger, for you know the soul of the stranger, having been strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9). This mandate compels us to work towards a society that does not merely tolerate diversity but celebrates it.

Our focus today—the intersection of British Muslim identity and mainstream policy—challenges us to think deeply about how we construct policies that do not merely accommodate but actively value and integrate diverse experiences. This is not a task for a single community, nor a responsibility that can be outsourced to one sector. Rather, it demands a coalition: a coalition of faith leaders, policymakers, business leaders, academics, and civil society—all of us working together to shape a society where everyone feels they belong.

The power of inclusive policy

We know that societies flourish when diversity is harnessed rather than feared. This is not just a moral argument; it is an empirical one. Policies that are developed with meaningful engagement from diverse voices lead to better social cohesion, stronger economies, and more resilient democracies.

Take, for example, policies around public holidays, workplace accommodations, or school curricula. When these are crafted with the input of multiple faith communities, they reflect the needs of a broader segment of society. This, in turn, fosters a sense of belonging and shared national identity. For British Muslims, as for all faith communities, seeing their lived realities reflected in national policy is a powerful affirmation that they are not just included but essential to the UK’s social fabric.

Yet, despite the evidence, we still see policies that fail to fully consider the experiences of minority communities. Islamophobia remains a persistent challenge, manifesting in workplace discrimination, biased media narratives, and even government rhetoric. Addressing these challenges requires more than condemnation; it demands structural change. We must ensure that policies are shaped not just about communities but with them.

The structures for Jewish engagement with Government

One of the strengths of the Jewish community in the UK is the existence of structured mechanisms for engaging with government. Organisations such as the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council provide a voice for British Jews in national policy discussions. These structures, though imperfect, ensure that Jewish concerns are represented at the highest levels. However, we must also acknowledge that representation alone is not enough. We must continuously strive to reflect the full breadth of our communities—not just across different denominations, but within them, ensuring that voices that have historically been marginalised are heard.

Just yesterday, we saw the importance of structured dialogue with the signing of the Drumlanrig Accords—an incredible step forward in strengthening interfaith relationships. Its power lay not only in the commitments made but in the convening power of government and royalty, bringing diverse voices together in a way that few other forums can achieve. Yet, as I looked at those gathered, I could not help but ask: where were the women? Where were the voices that represent the full diversity of our communities? True inclusion requires not just institutional representation but a commitment to broad and equitable participation.

And this speaks to a larger challenge—the assumption that authority and leadership automatically rest with those who hold titles, wear beards, or fit traditional models of religious power. When we fail to redistribute power and authority, when we limit representation to those who have historically been given the loudest voices, we silence the very people who could bring about the most meaningful change. Leadership must be redefined, not by external symbols, but by a true representation of the diversity within our communities. That is the only way we ensure policies that reflect the realities of all people.

Transatlantic approaches to international religious freedom

In this context, our panel on transatlantic strategies for advancing religious freedom is both timely and urgent. The UK and the US share a common commitment to religious liberty, yet both face rising challenges—from the resurgence of religious hatred to the politicisation of faith identities.

As a Jewish leader, I am acutely aware of how religious minorities often serve as a barometer for the broader health of a society. The rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia across both nations is not just a crisis for Jewish and Muslim communities—it is a warning sign for democracy itself. When religious minorities are targeted, it signals a weakening of the very principles that hold our societies together.

In both countries, anti-Muslim sentiment has been exacerbated by geopolitical conflicts, sensationalist media, and, at times, political opportunism. The best response to these forces is not retreat or silence but rather proactive coalition-building. Religious communities must work together, standing in solidarity against Islamophobia, antisemitism, and all forms of religious hatred.

One of the most effective strategies we have seen in both the UK and the US is interfaith partnerships advocating for policy reform. Whether it is Muslim and Jewish leaders standing together against hate crimes or faith-based organisations collaborating on refugee resettlement, these alliances demonstrate that inclusion is not a zero-sum game. Strengthening protections for one group strengthens protections for all.

The Role of faith in public life

At a time when some argue for a more secular public sphere, I want to make the case that faith has an indispensable role to play in policy-making. Faith communities provide moral leadership, grassroots networks, and an unwavering commitment to social justice. They are uniquely positioned to advocate for inclusive policies, as they often serve the very communities most impacted by exclusion.

However, for faith leaders to be effective partners in policy-making, we must also challenge our own communities to be inclusive. Interfaith solidarity cannot be selective. It cannot be that we only stand together when our own communities are under threat. We must have the moral courage to speak out even when it is inconvenient, even when it challenges us to rethink our own biases.

A call to action

So, what does this mean for us—right now, in this room? It means that inclusion cannot be a passive commitment. It must be active, deliberate, and enshrined in policy.

It means that businesses must take faith diversity as seriously as they take gender and racial diversity, ensuring that employees do not have to choose between professional success and religious observance. It means that academia must provide platforms for Muslim scholars and students to shape narratives about their own communities. It means that government must listen—to faith leaders, to civil society, and most importantly, to those with lived experience of exclusion.

As a British rabbi, I speak here today not just as an ally but as someone whose own community has lived the consequences of exclusion—and who deeply understands that the fight against Islamophobia is also a fight for the kind of society in which Jewish life, and all minority life, can flourish.

We are here today because we believe that a stronger UK is a more inclusive UK. This is not just an aspiration; it is an imperative. The strength of a nation is not measured by its ability to suppress difference but by its capacity to embrace it.

Let us commit—not just in words but in action—to policies that reflect the full breadth of our society. Let us build together a future where no community is marginalised, where faith is recognised as a force for good, and where inclusion is not a concession but a cornerstone of our shared national identity.