And Ramadan mubarak to all of you. In advance, or belatedly, as the case may be. These gates of ijtihad, they swing wide open…

What authority will this board hold? Who will define the label ‘Muslim’? Ministers are quoted by the BBC as saying the board will “reflect the diversity of Islam and Muslim communities in the UK”. What does that even mean? Does this include Muslims who may hold unpopular views regarding women, liberalism or gay rights? Or how about those on the other side of the spectrum (e.g. Muslims who are also gay, people who self-define as ’secular Muslims’)?

At first glance, this looks like an extra-legal attempt to set up so-called  ’sharia courts’, but without the accountability element.

No separation of church and state, please. We’re British.

As more and more chemicals make it into the food we consume, it is necessary to keep in mind that something could be pure yet unlawful to consume because it has been proven to be harmful. While it may be difficult to find food products that are both pure and wholesome, much of the food we eat ends up being non-essential (like meat). Perhaps the existence of organic Kosher alternatives at the supermarket will prompt our brothers and sisters to address this community-wide need.

All food, organic or not, is made up of chemicals.