PM urges Badenoch to sack shadow minister over Muslim comments

Sir Keir Starmer has called on Kemi Badenoch to sack shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy after he described a mass Muslim public prayer as an "act of domination and division".

Timothy was referring to the prayers which took place at an open iftar event in London's Trafalgar Square on Monday.

At prime minister's questions, Sir Keir urged Badenoch to condemn the Conservative MP's comments on social media, which he claimed showed her party had a "problem with Muslims".

Badenoch said the MP was "defending British values". The Tory leader's spokesman said Timothy's comments were based on footage showing segregated males praying at the event.

London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan was among thousands to attend the Trafalgar Square open iftar organised by the Ramadan Tent Project, which says it aims to improve relations between different communities.

The charity has hosted about 20 open iftar meals across the country this year, under the theme of hope.

An iftar is a meal shared at the end of a day of fasting during Ramadan, with prayers commonly taking place before or during.

In a post on X, Timothy said: "Mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination."

He added: "Perform these rituals in mosques if you wish. But they are not welcome in our public places and shared institutions."

The prime minister claimed Timothy's comments were "straight from the Islamist playbook".

"If he was in my team, he'd be gone. It's utterly appalling. She should denounce his comments and she should sack him," he said at PMQs.

Badenoch said Timothy was "defending British values" rather than "abolishing jury trials", drawing comparisons with Justice Secretary David Lammy's reform plans.

"I know who I would rather have sitting on the front bench next to me, and it's not him," she told the PM.

Sir Keir hit back by claiming the Conservatives were now aligned with far right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

"Even Tommy Robinson, I can hardly believe I'm saying this, has said today that if the shadow justice secretary had made these hateful comments two years ago the Conservative Party would have kicked him out.

"Tommy Robinson isn't some sort of moral signpost, he was pointing out how much their party has changed. They're more inclined to his views, and he's right about that. The fact he's sitting on her front bench shows she's too weak and has got absolutely no judgement."

Timothy's full post on X had read: "Too many are too polite to say this. But mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination.

"The Adhan - which declares there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger - is, when called in a public place, a declaration of domination.

"Perform these rituals in mosques if you wish. But they are not welcome in our public places and shared institutions.

"And given their explicit repudiation of Christianity they certainly do not belong in our churches and cathedrals.

"I am not suggesting everybody at Trafalgar Square last night is an Islamist. But the domination of public places is straight from the Islamist playbook.

"Trafalgar Square belongs to all of us. It is a national memorial to our independence and our salvation.

"Last night was not like a televised football match or a St Patrick's Day celebration. It was an act of domination and therefore division.

"It shouldn't happen again."

In the Commons, Sir Keir went on to say: "When I see religious events in Trafalgar Square, when I see Hindus celebrating Diwali, when I see Jews celebrating Chanukah live, when I see Christians performing the Passion of the Christ, or Muslims praying, that shows the great strength of our diverse city and country.

"I've never heard her party call out anything other than the Muslim events. It's only when Muslims are praying. The only conclusion is the Tory Party has got a problem with Muslims."

A spokesman for Badenoch said she stood by Timothy, adding: "The Conservative Party believes in British values and those British values mean we are an open and tolerant society, but with boundaries.

"And freedom of religion does not mean the freedom to do anything. It comes with responsibilities.

"People are free to practise their faith but that practice does not require exclusionary use of our shared civic spaces. That is not about worship. It becomes something else which undermines social cohesion. So that is where we draw the line. And that is what Nick Timothy was talking about."

He conceded that he did not have proof that women had been specifically excluded, but said it was clear from the pictures that it was "exclusionary" because women were "outside the barriers".

He would not be drawn on whether a Conservative government would ban single sex gatherings, saying it was about the "principle" of not having public events where women were excluded.

He denied the Conservatives were singling out one religion, saying: "The Conservatives had the first Muslim chancellor and had the first Muslim home secretary."