Britain’s “Sectarian Politics” Narrative Is a Dangerous Con
Right-wing politicians and pundits in Britain have spent the last few months talking about the alleged danger of sectarian politics. It’s a cynical attempt to present British Muslims as a fifth column and to delegitimize opposition to genocide in Gaza.
The true practitioners of “sectarian politics” in Britain are right-wing politicians like Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch who present important issues like the Gaza genocide as if they were illegitimate and only of concern to Muslims. (Andrea Domeniconi / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)
“Sectarianism” is a strange term to use when seeking to understand contemporary British politics. However, in recent months, the term has become ubiquitous.
In February this year, the Green Party won a parliamentary by-election in Manchester’s Gorton and Denton constituency. Disgruntled members of Reform UK, whose candidate the Greens had bested, leveled allegations of “sectarianism” and “sectarian voting” at Muslim voters in the constituency.
Since then, use of such language has dramatically increased. Politicians and media commentators routinely use it to stigmatize any political choices by British Muslims of which they disapprove.
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