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Sir Keir Starmer has called for Conservative shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy to be sacked for describing a mass Muslim public prayer as an “act of domination” and “division”.
The prime minister urged Tory leader Kemi Badenoch to fire the shadow minister on Wednesday after Timothy made the remark in reference to an Open Iftar event in Trafalgar Square on Monday.
Sir Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London who is Muslim, was among those who attended the event, which was hosted by the charity Ramadan Tent Project.
Timothy said in a post on X on Tuesday: “Mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination . . . Perform these rituals in mosques if you wish. But they are not welcome in our public places and shared institutions.”
He added that while he was “not suggesting everybody at Trafalgar Square last night is an Islamist”, the “domination of public places is straight from the Islamist playbook”.
The post went on to say: “It was an act of domination and therefore division.”
His post included a video clip from the event showing several hundred people — including Khan — praying in rows in the square.
Starmer said the Tory frontbencher’s comments showed the opposition party had “a problem with Muslims” and called on Badenoch to denounce the remarks.
Christian, Jewish and Hindu gatherings also take place every year in Trafalgar Square, to which the prime minister drew attention. A re-enactment of the Passion of Jesus takes place annually on Good Friday, while a Diwali celebration is hosted in the autumn followed by a Hanukkah event in December.
At Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, Starmer said of Badenoch: “She appointed the shadow justice secretary. He said last night that Muslims praying in public, including the mayor of London, practising his faith, are not welcome.
“He described it as an act of domination. 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.”
Badenoch said Timothy was “defending British values” and contrasted his actions with Justice Secretary David Lammy who she said was “abolishing jury trials” for thousands of cases.
“I know who I would rather have sitting on the front bench next to me, and it’s not him,” Badenoch said.
Starmer said the episode showed the Conservatives were now “more inclined” towards the views of Tommy Robinson, the far-right activist whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and who was invited to visit the US State Department last month.
Timothy was approached for comment.