by Aine Fox, Independent
Rowan Williams was the Church of England’s leading bishop for 10 years until 2012
The former Archbishop of Canterbury has accused Nigel Farage of asserting the UK’s Christianity to “channel anti-Muslim feeling”.
Rowan Williams, who served as the Church of England’s leading bishop for 10 years until 2012, acknowledged there is an “inevitable scepticism these days about some claims to religious conviction”.
In an interview for the New Humanist magazine published this week, 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 shared a post online that read: “The Christian values on which our country is built are something to be proud of.”
In 2024, he drew 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”.
Read also: Reform UK hits back at claim Farage uses Christianity for ‘anti-Muslim feeling’ by James Lewis, Premier