Sir Keir Starmer has accused the Conservative Party of having “a problem with Muslims” after shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy described public Muslim prayers as “an act of domination”. During Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer called on Kemi Badenoch to sack Timothy over his social media post about Sadiq Khan joining others to pray in Trafalgar Square.
Timothy wrote on X: “Too many are too polite to say this. But mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination.” He added that the adhan, the Islamic call to prayer, was “a declaration of domination” when performed in public. Badenoch defended Timothy, saying he was “defending British values”.
Starmer responded: “I have never seen her party call out anything other than the Muslim events. It is only when Muslims are praying … the only conclusion is that the Tory party has got a problem with Muslims.” Former Tory co-chair Sayeeda Warsi said the comments made British Muslims feel unwelcome and described the approach as “electoral suicide”.
Imam Qari Assam, who advised Theresa May’s government on Islamophobia, said Timothy’s interpretation of the adhan was wrong, calling it “a simple call to worship – an invitation”. He warned that such remarks risked fuelling anti-Muslim hostility. Timothy doubled down in a later tweet, rejecting criticism from former attorney general Dominic Grieve.
