Has the UK Been “Islamized”?

By Wei Cheng

Not long ago, Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old New York State Assembly member, won the Democratic primary for New York City Mayor. If he defeats all other candidates in the general election this November, he will become New York City’s first Muslim mayor in history.

Mamdani’s primary victory alone has sparked significant controversy in the United States. Some have compared Mamdani to Sadiq Khan, the Muslim Mayor of London. Naturally, the conclusions drawn by the left and right are sharply different: the left argues that the massive controversy around Mamdani before even becoming mayor shows that the U.S., as an immigrant nation, lags behind non-immigrant Britain in social progress and diversity. The right, on the other hand, believes that the prospect of a Muslim mayor for America’s largest and most prosperous city, New York, suggests the U.S. is “becoming British” — that is, being eroded or taken over by Islamic culture.

Perhaps the most famous statement from the right is U.S. Vice President Vance’s assertion: “Britain is the first Islamist country with nuclear weapons.”

In the Chinese internet world, claims about the “Islamization of Britain” are even more fantastical, for example, alleging that the Muslim population in the UK will surpass that of white people, or that major British cities have “fallen” and been taken over by Muslims.

Perhaps, by analyzing the data, we can determine which claims have some basis and which are exaggerated.

Demographics and Religion

In terms of population, according to the 2021 UK Census data, the Muslim population accounts for approximately 6.5% of the total UK population. In 2011, this proportion was about 4.4%. Over these ten years, the Muslim population increased by about 44%, from 2.7 million to 3.9 million. This indicates that the Muslim population in the UK is indeed growing rapidly, but its proportion of the total population remains relatively small, far from being able to dominate British politics, culture, or turn it into “the first Islamist country with nuclear weapons.”

In terms of religion, the same 2021 UK Census shows that Christians account for 46.2% of the population in England and Wales, falling below half, compared to 59.3% in 2011. However, Christianity remains the largest religion, and Christians are still the largest religious group. The second largest group is not Muslims, but rather those who identify as “no religion,” accounting for 37.2%. The Muslim population is the third largest religious group, but only accounts for 6.5% of the population in England and Wales. This is far from suggesting that Britain has been “Islamized.”

Politics and Governance

In politics, the latest data also cannot prove that the British government, Parliament, and local governments have been “taken over” by Muslims.

According to the results of the 2024 UK General Election, there are 25 Muslim Members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons, accounting for only 3.85% of the total 650 MPs. This is lower than the Muslim population’s proportion of the total UK population, which is 6.5%. In the current UK Labour government’s Cabinet, there is only one Muslim Cabinet Minister, a proportion of merely about 5% among over 20 Cabinet members.

A claim circulating on the Chinese internet states: “Among major UK cities, from the capital London to other major cities, there are 11 Muslim mayors.” This statement does not align with the facts. Mayors in the UK are categorized as either directly-elected mayors or ceremonial mayors. The latter are usually elected by city council members on a rotating basis and do not possess executive powers. Currently, only Greater London and two of its boroughs have directly-elected Muslim mayors (both roles are called “mayor” in English). Additionally, a few other towns have ceremonial mayors who are Muslim.

Crucially, these Muslim MPs, Cabinet Ministers, and local administrative heads are all elected through democratic processes, have fixed terms, and reflect the will of the voters, rather than being religious appointments.

Public Perception and Political Figures

Of course, London is the capital of the UK, a global financial hub, and one of the most important symbolic cities of Western civilization. Just as the American right expresses alarm over Mamdani potentially becoming New York City Mayor, the British right, and even some ordinary Britons, initially felt apprehension and reluctance towards a Muslim serving as London Mayor.

Far-right figures in the UK, similar to their “comrades” across the Atlantic, also fuel “Islamophobia.” For example, Nigel Farage, the current leader of the Reform UK party, once stated: “what we are seeing is a fifth column, a group of people who do not subscribe to British values, who are deeply opposed to them, who in fact want to take us over.” He has also repeatedly accused Muslim independent candidates of engaging in “sectarian politics,” calling it “a way of trying to take over Parliament.”

However, the majority of Britons do not agree with Farage’s statements. As a result, Sadiq Khan won 57% of the votes in the Greater London mayoral election in May 2016, becoming the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital. He was subsequently re-elected in 2021 and 2024, becoming the first Mayor of London to serve three consecutive terms.

Distinctions Between Khan and Mamdani

Despite both being Muslim, Sadiq Khan and Zohran Mamdani exhibit several differences. For instance, in terms of political ideology, Sadiq Khan is a moderate within the Labour Party and a social democrat, while Mamdani is a far-left democrat socialist within the Democratic Party, specifically a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Regarding religious belief, Sadiq Khan emphasizes the boundary between faith and public service, often publicly expressing his commitment to London’s multiculturalism and striving to represent all Londoners, regardless of their faith. Mamdani, on the other hand, frequently links his faith to his advocacy for social and economic justice issues, such as housing rights, healthcare, and workers’ rights. On the Israel-Palestine issue, Sadiq Khan supports a “two-state solution” and maintains a cautious stance to avoid controversial statements, whereas Mamdani has openly criticized Israel as an “apartheid state” and faced accusations of antisemitism due to remarks like “globalized intifada.”

Perhaps it is precisely because of these differences that Sadiq Khan has been accepted by most London voters and successfully re-elected Mayor of London twice, while Mamdani faces controversy at every step of his New York City mayoral campaign, drawing strong criticism from both Republicans and the Democratic establishment.