The row over Muslim prayers in Trafalgar Square has continued to gather momentum, with Reform MP Danny Kruger the latest to weigh in.
The former Conservative MP said that while small groups of people praying in public are acceptable, large-scale religious displays in national spaces risk undermining Britain’s Christian heritage.
“Small groups of people, of whatever religion, praying in public places is fine," he wrote on social media. "And as a Christian country we should allow a special privilege for churches to lead services in our national spaces, like the Palm Sunday celebration that happens in Trafalgar Square."
Kruger continued: “What we don't want is mass ritual observances intended to claim the civic realm for another religion, or assert the domination of another culture over our own Christian traditions.”
The row began earlier this week after shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy described a mass Muslim prayer at an open iftar on Monday as “an act of domination and division”.
The Adhan, or call to prayer, is central to daily Muslim worship and is particularly significant during Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and reflection. Iftar, the meal that breaks the fast, was organised by the Ramadan Tent Project, attracting thousands, including London mayor Sadiq Khan.
The comments prompted Prime Minister Keir Starmer to call on Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to sack Timothy acusing the party of having a “problem with Muslims.” Badenoch defended her colleague, saying he was “defending British values”.
For Kruger, a large Adhan conveys "an explicit threat to the foundations of our country” and could be seen as declaring that Britain is not a Christian nation.
The Devizes MP acknowledged that his concerns are partly about the scale of Islam in Britain and the ambitions of some of its leaders, rather than the faith itself. He emphasised that being relaxed about religion is “a very British thing” but warned that liberal tolerance should not be abused.
"It is the scale of Islam in Britain, and the ambition of its leaders for greater scale, that makes the problem," he said. "The numbers of people who assembled for the adhan in Trafalgar Square, clearly and openly claiming the territory for a faith with no connection (indeed, with strong doctrinal disagreement) with the model of Western liberal democracy that Britain has developed and exported to the world - that is the problem.
"I don't mind small groups of Hindus or Buddhists or Muslims demonstrating the reality of Britain's religious toleration by worshiping in Trafalgar Square. But let's not kid ourselves about this adhan, or pretend that we're just seeing another harmless expression of Britain's religious diversity. We are seeing an abuse of liberalism, led by people who are not themselves liberal; or - let us imagine they are acting in good faith - who are themselves deceived about what they are doing."
Kruger concluded his post by calling on the Church of England to speak out.