Cancellation of fringe event at Tory conference 'attempt to demonise Muslim community', says Stephen Bubb

The Conservative Party's decision to cancel a Muslim Charities Forum-sponsored fringe event at the party's annual conference was an attempt to "demonise" the Muslim community, according to Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive of the charity chief executives body Acevo. It said in a statement that conference officials cancelled the event after being contacted by the Sunday Telegraph journalist Andrew Gilligan, who questioned why the MCF was being allowed to take part in an event. The newspaper subsequently reported that the Muslim Charities Forum had been condemned by the government as "linked to individuals who fuel hatred, division and violence". A spokeswoman for the Conservative Party declined to comment on the reasons for the cancellation.