Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused the Conservative Party of having a “problem with Muslims” after shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy described a public prayer event in Trafalgar Square as “an act of domination”. During Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer urged Kemi Badenoch to sack Timothy over his social media post about London Mayor Sadiq Khan joining others in prayer.
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 domination of public places is straight from the Islamist playbook”. Starmer responded: “He said last night that Muslims praying in public, including the mayor of London practising his faith, are not welcome. If he were in my team he would be gone. She should denounce his comments and she should sack him.”
Badenoch defended Timothy, claiming he was “defending British values”. However, former Tory co-chair Sayeeda Warsi criticised the remarks, saying they make British Muslims feel unwelcome. She warned of “electoral suicide” from a “sectarian approach”. Starmer added in parliament: “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.”
Timothy further claimed the adhan, the Islamic call to prayer, is “a declaration of domination” when called in public. He said such rituals should be confined to mosques. However, Imam Qari Assam, who advised Theresa May’s government on Islamophobia, countered that the adhan is “a simple call to worship – an invitation”. He warned that such comments risk “fuelling demonisation and anti-Muslim hostility”.
Former Tory MP Dominic Grieve questioned Timothy’s stance, while Prof Javed Khan suggested the remarks could fall under the new definition of anti-Muslim hostility, though intent would need to be proven. Timothy doubled down on his comments, accusing Grieve of “wilful misunderstanding”.
