Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams accused Nigel Farage of using Christianity to channel anti-Muslim feeling and said he would like to ask ‘some awkward questions’ of Tommy Robinson, who declares himself a Christian
A former Archbishop of Canterbury has accused Nigel Farage of invoking Britain’s Christian identity as a means to “channel anti-Muslim feeling”.
Rowan Williams, who served as the Church of England’s most senior bishop for a decade until 2012, also stated he would like to pose “some awkward questions” to activist Tommy Robinson, who professes to be a Christian.
Speaking in an interview for New Humanist magazine Mr Williams acknowledged there is an “inevitable scepticism these days about some claims to religious conviction”. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
The former archbishop, who was born in Ystradgynlais, remarked: “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 published a post online declaring: “The Christian values on which our country is built are something to be proud of.”
In 2024 he 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 also attacked an Iftar celebration in Trafalgar Square, describing the religious fast-breaking gathering in London as an “attempt to overtake, intimidate, and dominate our way of life”.
In the magazine interview, published this week, Mr Williams was asked what he believed was fuelling Christian nationalism across 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.”
Reform UK announced last year 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 stated: “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.
Mr Williams further 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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