Religious Influence Gains Traction in UK Politics, Sparking Debate Over ’Christian Nationalism’
London, UK – A growing presence of faith-based perspectives within UK politics, particularly on the right, is prompting scrutiny and debate over whether a “religious right” is gaining momentum, mirroring trends seen in the United States. While traditional expressions of faith have long existed across the political spectrum, a newer strain – described as leaning towards “religious nationalism” – is becoming increasingly visible, raising concerns among observers.
Reform UK MP jacob Kruger is a prominent example of this trend, openly discussing the role of faith in his political views. He recently condemned what he described as a younger generation indoctrinated by “a mix of Marxism and narcissism and paganism, self-worship and nature-worship” at the National Conservatism conference in London.
However, faith’s influence isn’t limited to the right. Cross-party prayer groups exist within Parliament, and figures like Liberal Democrat former leader Tim Farron and Labour MP Rachael Maskell also openly integrate their faith into their political work. Maskell, who lost the Labour whip for a period after rebelling on welfare issues, emphasizes the importance of “moral justice” rooted in faith, stating it’s “part of our roots, how we think about inequality in society, making sure we have a just system that serves the people, as well as a just immigration system that keeps our border safe but recognises the dignity of people coming to the UK.”
Beyond established parties,the emergence of groups explicitly linking faith and right-wing politics is drawing attention. Tommy Robinson has begun presenting himself as a Christian, frequently enough in contrast to Islam. Nick Tenconi, leader of the UK branch of Turning Point, founded by the late US activist Charlie Kirk, utilizes social media messaging calling for a “return to Christ” alongside anti-Islam and anti-migrant rhetoric.
A particularly striking presentation of this trend occurred in october when a Turning Point-affiliated group, king’s Army, marched in formation through Soho, London’s LGBT district, wearing branded tracksuits.
Despite these developments, experts caution against overstating the scale of the movement. Friends of businessman and donor Jeremy Marshall, frequently enough cited as a funder of US-style evangelism, insist he is a devout Anglican “strongly opposed to Christian nationalism and any kind of politicisation of faith.”
According to a Christian MP on the right, while issues like assisted dying have united faith-based MPs, a broader “evangelical lobby” remains limited. “For me, my faith is more a foundation for what I already believe,” the MP stated, adding, “And here, religion is not really a vote winner.”
Observers like those at the Evangelical Alliance (EA) suggest that in the UK, religious influence frequently enough manifests as “Christian nostalgia, linked to our historic identity with the church that people feel may have been lost,” rather than a direct replication of US-style religious nationalism.
