Lord Wajid Khan of Burnley, aged 44, has been appointed as the government's new Faith Minister.
He is a British Labour Party politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for North West England from 2017 to 2019, and as Mayor of Burnley from 2020 to 2021.
Lord Khan has also served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Faith, Communities, and Resettlement since July 2024.
Although he has not been formally announced as Faith Minister, his appointment is known by the RMC and many faith leaders who have already spoken to him about the riots and their aftermath.
Lord Khan studied law at university and has been a university lecturer, a Member of the European Parliament, and a community and charity organiser.
He is open about his Islamic faith and often reflects this in his public service and community work.
Hannah Rich from Christians on the Left told Premier Christian News it is an "asset" that Lord Khan has a "personal faith" and said that belonging to a faith community is "really helpful for someone in this role".
This week, Lord Khan met with the Pope at the Vatican.
A post on X by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said: "Lord Khan's time at the Vatican has underscored the importance of interfaith dialogue in bringing our communities closer.
"It’s so important to create spaces to remind us of what unites us.
"From this, we can build understanding, patience, and respect."