The state of the economy and Islamophobia were among the topics discussed when Conservative Party co-chairman Baroness Sayeeda Warsi met a group of Bradford Muslim women yesterday.

Around 50 Muslim women attended the Bradford Circle forum held at The Carlisle Business Centre, to engage in a debate with Baroness Warsi, the most senior Muslim woman politician in Britain. Other issues discussed included education and young people’s futures.

Baroness Warsi said: “Every time I meet a large group of Muslim women I get exactly the same experience – I walk away thinking wow. They are energetic, articulate, they’ve thought about the issues they are engaging in and are warm. This is again one of those experiences.

“It’s great to come back and get a real temperature of what is happening on the ground. I faced difficult questions, but actually they were very warm and a lot of the specific issues were ones I’ve been involved with including forced marriage, childcare, internships and anti-Muslim hatred.

“The single thing that I hope I’ve left them with is to say it is tough to adopt leadership positions, but you’ve done this and set up this organisation, that is adopting a leadership position.”

The Bradford Circle was set up by the Muslim Women’s Council to provide Muslim women with the opportunity for discussion on leadership, representation and issues impacting on them.

Labour Party leader Ed Miliband attended the group’s first meeting last month.

Muslim Women’s Council’s Bradford director, Selina Ullah, said: “Baroness Warsi was robust and open in her discussion. She was very firm, defending an array of government policies and explaining the rationale underlying decisions being made by the Coalition.”

Mahroof Ahtar, who attended the forum said: “I found the meeting very inspiring. She answered our questions very well in the limited time. She gave more encouragement to the voices of women.”

Bana Gora, Bradford Circle’s chairman, added: “The Bradford Circle is a great forum for those voices and it is important to have senior politicians engaging with us. Recognition of the value we can add as well as the challenges we face is vital.”