Gordon Brown wants to make the U.K. the gateway for Islamic finance in the West, and hence the gateway for the introduction of Sharia standards and practices. From The Guardian, with thanks to DFS:
Chancellor Gordon Brown will set out a three-point plan to make the UK “the gateway for Islamic finance”.
He will deliver his message in a speech to the Islamic Finance and Trade Conference in London, organised by the Muslim Council of Britain.
Mr Brown will say he wants to make London the location of choice for Islamic investment, pointing to the work done in tax and regulatory reform to support the development of a financial framework compliant with sharia law.
Secondly, Mr Brown will say he wants to strengthen UK trading links with Muslim countries.
And thirdly, the Chancellor will stress his determination to help break the world trade talks deadlock in a deal designed to boost the Middle East and Indonesia – the world’s most populous country.
Mr Brown will say: “It is the vibrancy and dynamism of Britain’s Muslims, combined with Britain’s openness to the world and our historic ties with Muslim countries, that means the ambition you have set for yourselves with this conference – to make Britain the gateway to Islamic finance and trade – is one I believe Britain is well placed to achieve.”