Badenoch Accuses Starmer of 'Sucking Up' to Muslims Amid Prayer Controversy
Kemi Badenoch has launched a fierce attack on Sir Keir Starmer, accusing the Labour leader of 'sucking up' to Muslim voters to stem defections to the Green Party. This accusation comes as a bitter political dispute intensifies over a mass public prayer event held in Trafalgar Square.
Defence of Tory Comments Sparks Fury
The Conservative leader has staunchly defended shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy, who described the Ramadan iftar prayer gathering as an 'act of domination and division'. At Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir had demanded Mr Timothy's sacking, labelling his remarks 'utterly appalling'.
However, Ms Badenoch countered on Thursday, arguing the debate centres on religious expression in shared public spaces. 'This is not about freedom of religion,' she stated. 'It is about how religion is expressed in a shared public space, and whether those expressions fit within the norms of a British culture.'
Hypocrisy Claims and Political Point-Scoring
In a significant escalation, Ms Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of blatant hypocrisy. She revealed that Sir Keir had previously withdrawn from an event organised by the same group, the Ramadan Tent Project, in 2021 after concerns were raised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
'I will not take lectures from Keir Starmer or Labour on this,' Badenoch declared. 'In 2021, Keir pulled out of an event organised by this very same group, who are highly controversial. He did so because he was sucking up to British Jews and the Board of Deputies to pretend that the Labour Party had changed. Now, in the wake of Gorton and Denton, he wants to suck up to a different community. This is the mother of all hypocrisy.'
Labour's Counter-Accusations and Community Backlash
Labour has responded with equal ferocity, condemning the Conservative stance. Party chair Anna Turley accused Ms Badenoch of 'cowardice on confronting anti-Muslim hostility in her party' and failing to sack Mr Timothy.
'The Tories have now joined Reform in the gutter by adopting Tommy Robinson endorsed views over Muslims peacefully praying in London,' Turley said. 'The majority of Brits – including many Conservatives – will rightly be appalled by it. It shows just how far the Tories have sunk.'
She emphasised London's tolerant and diverse character, vowing that Labour would continue to champion these values nationwide.
Personal Perspective and Cultural Norms
Ms Badenoch, speaking after launching the Conservatives' local election campaign, offered a personal perspective on the issue. 'As a woman, and especially as a woman from an ethnic minority who grew up in a country where Islam was very visible, I'm very uncomfortable with seeing women pushed to the back in the middle of Trafalgar Square in an event which is exclusionary,' she explained.
She clarified that her position is not about restricting religious practice but ensuring it aligns with British societal norms. 'We need to make sure the religious expression is in conformity with our values, our norms, our beliefs, and sometimes that does mean saying, 'actually, no, that's probably too much'.'
The event, hosted by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, has thus ignited a profound debate about multiculturalism, political opportunism, and the boundaries of public religious observance in modern Britain.
