Nigel Farage is angry about a job listing on the UK Government’s website for a “Shariah Law Administrator.” The job was posted through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), but the actual position is with the Manchester Community Centre, which is looking for someone who understands Sharia law. The role involves helping members of the local Muslim community by offering advice, doing admin tasks, and working with the Manchester Shariah Council, a private charity. The salary for the job is £23,500 a year.
Farage reacted strongly, posting on social media that this kind of job shows how the country’s values are being “destroyed.” He also shared a screenshot of the advert.
Political commentator Bella Wallersteiner also criticized it, saying that the UK should have only one legal system — English law — and that Sharia law has no place in the country. Reform UK councillor Laila Cunningham added that the job is “disgusting” and accused the government of using taxpayer money to support Sharia law. She argued it goes against British laws and values, and that there should be no exceptions or compromises.
However, others pointed out that the job isn’t actually funded by the government. It was simply posted on a government-run job board, but the employer is a private community charity. They also reminded critics that Sharia councils must still follow British law.
The topic of Sharia law in the UK has caused heated debate for many years. Politicians, especially from Conservative and Reform UK parties, often raise concerns about its presence in British society.
According to *The Telegraph*, there were 85 Sharia councils operating in the UK at the end of last year. These councils mostly deal with personal matters like marriage and family issues, offering guidance based on Islamic teachings. The councils are usually led by male Islamic scholars, and they can grant religious divorces if a husband refuses to do so. However, any decisions they make have no power over British law.
That’s because Sharia marriages are not recognized under UK civil law. Tory MP Nick Timothy has said that if people get married under Sharia law without also having a civil marriage, it should be treated as a criminal offense. The concern is that women in these religious-only marriages are often left without legal protection when relationships break down.
This debate highlights a bigger question about how cultural and religious practices fit within British law, and where the lines should be drawn.
