UK Government Minister for Faith

22 August 2024

The FCG write:

We are delighted to announce that Lord Khan of Burnley, recently appointed by His Majesty the King as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), is the government’s new Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement.

Following his appointment, Lord Khan has written an open letter to faith and belief stakeholders. In his letter, he praises the rich tapestry of faiths and beliefs that contribute to the vibrant, diverse country we cherish. He reaffirms the government’s commitment to building a safer Britain for all communities and highlights his visits to areas affected by recent violence, where he witnessed the crucial role faith groups played in addressing unrest. He emphasises that faith and belief must be part of the national conversation as we tackle the challenges ahead.

Biography
Lord Khan has an extensive academic and political background, with faith and community engagement as a consistent theme. Early in his career, in 2004, he was awarded a National Award in Social and Community Cohesion as a result of his work on community cohesion projects. He has also received other awards more recently, including Pakistan’s highest civilian award for his work on international human rights, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Gujrat, Pakistan.

Lord Khan studied undergraduate and postgraduate law at the University of Central Lancashire, after which he took on a position as an academic and lecturer at the university from 2005. He also went on to be Course Leader for studies in Community Leadership in 2006.

He has also held many political positions over the years, from serving as a local councillor in his home town of Burnley (2007-2017), to serving as an MEP for North West England in the European Parliament (2017-2019). He also served as the Mayor of Burnley from 2020-2021.