The government’s recently published guidance on Anti-Muslim Hostility laid great emphasis on freedom of speech, the right to ridicule or insult a religion or belief, including Islam, and its portrayal in a manner that some of its adherents might find disrespectful or scandalous.

Given that this is the case, one could be forgiven for thinking that Starmer might have exercised the “tolerance” that he so frequently extolls when describing his vision for Britain, and celebrated the ability of Nick Timothy MP freely to express his views on X concerning the Islamic rituals hosted by Muslim Mayor Siddiq Khan in Trafalgar Square this week.

In his own words, Timothy said: “Too many are too polite to say this. But mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination”. In particular, he referred to the Islamic call to prayer  (the adhan) which had been broadcast over the square at the time.

Read more: Politics: Islam fatigue