Starmer brands Trump UN Sharia claim nonsense, backs London mayor Khan

London — Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday condemned Donald Trump's remarks to the United Nations as nonsense, as he sought to quash international controversy over the U.S. president's claim that London wants to implement Sharia law. The remarks arrived as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described Trump's assertion as ridiculous nonsense, signaling a coordinated effort by UK leaders to downplay the issue while defending British legality and civic norms.

Starmer said he supported Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, who is Muslim, and stressed there are many areas where the United States and the United Kingdom cooperate on a wide range of issues. He added that he would not engage in a war of words, but noted that, according to him, there were points of disagreement with the president. "You saw from the state visit last week that there are plenty of things on which the president and I agree, and we are working together. There are some issues on which we disagree, and what the president said about the mayor, who's doing a really good job, in fact driving down serious crime, what he said about the introduction of Sharia law was ridiculous nonsense. I support our mayor, I'm really proud of the fact we have a Muslim mayor of a very diverse city. We do work with the Americans on a huge number of issues. On this issue I disagree, and I stand with our mayor," Starmer said after a private meeting with party colleagues. He also said he had spoken personally to Khan.

Khan, in turn, dismissed Trump's comments as a distraction, telling reporters that the U.S. president seemed to be living "rent-free inside Donald Trump's head". Khan defended London as a global, multicultural city with a record influx of visitors and residents from around the world, arguing that London is often ranked as a leading cultural capital.

The government has pushed back on the foreign policy flare-up, with Cabinet minister Pat McFadden rejecting any implication that London wanted to adopt Sharia in law. Justice Minister Sarah Sackman told the House of Commons that Sharia forms have "no part of the law of England and Wales." Officials also noted that while religious courts, including Sharia councils, operate in the United Kingdom, their rulings are not legally binding and relate mainly to religious marriage arbitration and financial matters.

Context around Sharia and the law remains a point of clarification for lawmakers and the public. The government emphasizes that English and Welsh law is secular and sovereign, and that no religious body can override it. The appointment of clergy or councils to adjudicate personal matters does not confer legal status on their rulings; instead, disputes in core civil terms are resolved under established civil and criminal law. The clarification comes amid ongoing public interest in how religious practices intersect with state law within families and personal life.

Starmer’s comments reflect a broader attempt by Labour to balance a critical stance on U.S. policy and rhetoric with an emphasis on transatlantic cooperation on shared priorities. The episode underscores the sensitivity of London’s political leadership to foreign remarks about the city’s diversity and its governance, even as the two governments navigate issues from security to trade and climate collaboration. Observers note that the Trump administration’s framing of London and Khan has the potential to complicate diplomatic signaling at a time when allied ties are already tested by competing domestic and international pressures.

The shift in tone from both Labour and the government signals an effort to foreground legality and civic values while maintaining channels for cooperation with the United States. As the United Nations continues to host discussions that straddle domestic policy and international diplomacy, UK officials say the country will continue to engage with the United States on a range of issues, while clearly stating that the UK’s legal framework does not permit religiously affiliated jurisdictions to supplant national law.