Kemi Badenoch has defended her shadow justice secretary, Nick Timothy, after he described Islamic prayers in public as an 'act of domination' and 'un-British'. The Conservative leader stated the debate is not about freedom of religion but its expression in shared public spaces.
The controversy began when Timothy posted images of a Ramadan event in London's Trafalgar Square, claiming mass prayer in public places was intimidating and part of an 'Islamist playbook'. Despite criticism from London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who attended the event, Timothy reiterated his views in a Daily Telegraph article, calling for such events to be banned.
Speaking after a local election campaign launch, Badenoch said both Timothy and other Tories concerned about gender-segregated prayers were 'correct'. She expressed discomfort as a woman and ethnic minority seeing women 'pushed to the back' in Trafalgar Square, adding that religious expressions must conform to British values and norms.
Labour chair Anna Turley condemned the remarks, stating the Tories had 'joined Reform in the gutter' by adopting views endorsed by Tommy Robinson. She accused Badenoch of lacking backbone for not sacking Timothy over his 'despicable comments on Muslims'.
