Farage using Christianity to channel anti-Muslim feeling – Rowan Williams
Áine Fox, Press Association Social Affairs Correspondent
A former archbishop of Canterbury has accused Nigel Farage of asserting the UK’s Christianity as a way to “channel anti-Muslim feeling”.
Rowan Williams, who was the leading Anglican bishop for 10 years until 2012, also said he would like to ask “some awkward questions” of activist Tommy Robinson, who declares himself a Christian.
In an interview for the New Humanist magazine, Mr Williams acknowledged there is an “inevitable scepticism these days about some claims to religious conviction”.
The former archbishop said: “I suspect really that (Nigel) Farage and others want to channel anti-Muslim feeling, and it helps to have ‘we’re a Christian society’ to fling back. It gives a sort of ballast.”
At Easter, Reform UK leader Mr Farage made a post online stating: “The Christian values on which our country is built are something to be proud of.”
He had, in 2024, prompted criticism after suggesting there were “a growing number of young people in this country who do not subscribe to British values, in fact loathe much of what we stand for”, confirming when asked that he was referring to Muslims.
Earlier this year, Mr Farage criticised an Iftar in Trafalgar Square, saying the religious fast-breaking event in London was an “attempt to overtake, intimidate and dominate our way of life”.
In the magazine interview, published this week, Mr Williams was asked what he thought was driving Christian nationalism in the UK.
He said: “There are lots of possible causes. Anxiety about migration; anti-Islamism.
“In France that anxiety has a secular aspect, but the St George’s Cross still means something in the English imagination, which still has a Christian aspect.
“The second thing is the globalising of all political discourse. The message given at international Christian conservative gatherings is that self-respecting nationalist movements need a bit of theology injected into them.
“Ironically, for someone like Nigel Farage, it’s about trying to find a presentational strategy that allows him to be taken seriously outside England. He’s often not here, after all.”
Last year, Reform UK announced the appointment of theologian James Orr – an academic who has influenced Donald Trump’s US administration – as a senior adviser to Mr Farage.
Mr Williams: “Although Nigel Farage thought it was worth getting
a theologian on board for Reform UK, I don’t think he lies awake at night thinking about his soul.
“I may be doing the man an injustice, but I don’t believe he cares about profound theological questions.”
Reform UK has been contacted in relation to the comments.
‘Awkward questions’
Mr Williams also suggested that while he would be “very glad” if “Tommy Robinson is doing his best to lead a life of Christian discipleship”, he would want to pose “some awkward questions” to him.
He said: “I would ask him how attempting to lead a life of Christian discipleship squares with public rhetoric designed to produce hostility and violence.”
Mr Robinson has spoken about doing Bible studies while in jail and has said he is now a Christian, having grown up Catholic but not practised.
In December he led a carol concert to “put the Christ back into Christmas” and his Unite the Kingdom march in London earlier this year saw some participants carry wooden crosses and chant “Christ is king”.
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Very nice comments from a lovely man. May Allah bless him and protect him. Aameen.
Very nice comments from you Amir. Good on you.
All the far right are, they think it’s a theme they can use to justify outright racist tropes. Not just Moscow Nige. Its Restore (see Clatworthy), Tommy 10 names is using it, they hark back to crusaders and what they did without really knowing what happened during the crusades or why they happened.
And a lot of US religious extremist money is finding its was to the UK. See LGBTQ attacks. It is not just Islam they attack.
But it is important to remember that 85% of the MI5 terror watchlist (40,000 people no less) are jihadist.
Correct, but you’re quoting the historical pool figures.
Those are inclusive of persons of interest from the past (quite irrelevant) and possible supporters.
The Active watchlist floats between 3200 and 4000. I’m sure it was an innocent oversight on your behalf though.
Source please, I have no idea and would like to peruse the info though Prevent figures say white far right is the issue.
But that does not mean what I said is incorrect and that far right religious extremists are still a threat.
The nazis used the same crutch in Germany and the church there went along with it. Nice lead, Rowan.
Farage is about as Christian as I am Cilla Black
Perhaps his special needs faith school RI teacher could answer a few pertinent questions as to what he was taught and did they concentrate on the Crusades!
I loathe British values and I ain’t even religious. The arrogance that is he UK, expecting others to bow for the across the world is disgusting. Religion is a personal thing, leave it so and leave others alone who have not caused our living standards to drop like Farage and his corrupt chums have.
Very well said. “British values” aren’t worth the toilet paper they’re written on.
I’d hardly call UK/Welsh values of democracy, culture, freedom of expression, democracy, tolerance, bravery etc “loathsome”. You must never let Reform own the myriad of positive things Wales and the UK have done for the world.
Bob sang with God on our Side, 60 years on this obscenity, led by the Gobby Blinder, is marching down our streets cheered on by millions, how did it happen in Cymru?
Of all the major abrahamic religions, Christianity is the one with love for your fellow human beings most at its core. That Reform go anywhere near it is quite repugnant. I guess we must forgive them, but it can be difficult.
Proof, if any further proof were needed, that humanity would be far better if we all just abandoned religion outright. I don’t care what your religious background is but there will always be someone who can find a way to interpret their religion of choice to suit their own racist/xenophobic/misogynistic/homophobic world view. Also, religion is used to justify social injustice and wealth inequality – so-called Christian conservatives in the USA (but increasingly so in other Western countries as well) are particularly fond of this. The seem to have forgotten the ‘it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye… Read more »
Isn’t it funny how my comment about how humanity would be better off without religion gets removed? Why is the default position that humanity somehow ‘needs’ religion?
Your comment hasn’t been removed