Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has praised the work of Jewish-Muslim Women’s group Nisa-Nashim.

She hosted the group in her parliamentary office in Westminster on Tuesday.

They discussed the impact of recent social and geo-political events, such as the October 7 atrocities, on Jewish and Muslim women in the UK as well as the importance of empowering women in the interfaith space.

Rayner, who as well as being Deputy Prime Minister is also Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, said after the meeting: “I am very grateful to the Jewish and Muslim women I met who spoke to me so candidly about their experiences as women of faith in the UK today.”

She continued: “They have refused to allow the shocking rise of hatred and intolerance towards their communities to come between them and drive divisions. Instead, they’ve turned to their commonality and close bond to show that communities can live in unity and that they are much stronger this way.”

The Deputy Prime Minister added that she would “make sure that their voices and experiences are at the heart of our work as a government to promote social cohesion and target religiously motivated hatred in all its forms.”

Among those present at the meeting with Rayner were Nisa-Nashim co-founder Laura Marks CBE, Union of Jewish Students President Sami Berkoff, London Jewish Forum co-chair Amanda Bowman, Labour councillor in Peterborough Dr Shabina Qayyum, Equalities campaigner Akeela Ahmed MBE and former president of the Muslim Teachers’ Association Rukhsana Yaqoob MBE.