Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed a group of inspiring young British Muslims to 10 Downing Street for a special Ramadan Iftar.
Among the key attendees were Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood, Minister for Housing Lord Wajid Khan, and Cllr Muhammad Butt, Leader of Brent Council.
Addressing the attending guests, the Prime Minister said, “Thank you all for being here. We've got a really good opportunity to have a discussion about your work. Bringing communities together, breaking down barriers, challenging misconceptions and supporting young people has to be done over and over and over again. So it's fantastic for me to be sharing this Iftar with you and throwing the doors at No 10 open and demonstrating that this building belongs to you just as much as it belongs to anyone else.”
During the gathering, Starmer personally served dates to attendees as they broke their fast.
The event comes amid tensions between Starmer and the British Muslim community, who have heavily criticised his support for Israel during the Gaza crisis. This Iftar was widely seen as an effort to rebuild trust and strengthen ties.
In a social media post, Starmer shared, “We have welcomed some of our country’s most inspiring young British Muslims to a Ramadan Iftar. It was an honour to join you as you broke your fast.”
This year, historic Iftar gatherings have taken place at some of the UK’s most iconic landmarks, including Windsor Castle, Westminster Hall, Shakespeare’s Globe, The Lord’s, Tower of London, and Manchester Cathedral—highlighting the growing recognition of Ramadan in British society.
