Timothy’s full post on X had read: “Too many are too polite to say this. But mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination.
“The Adhan – which declares there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger – is, when called in a public place, a declaration of domination.
“Perform these rituals in mosques if you wish. But they are not welcome in our public places and shared institutions.
“And given their explicit repudiation of Christianity they certainly do not belong in our churches and cathedrals.
“I am not suggesting everybody at Trafalgar Square last night is an Islamist. But the domination of public places is straight from the Islamist playbook.
“Trafalgar Square belongs to all of us. It is a national memorial to our independence and our salvation.
“Last night was not like a televised football match or a St Patrick’s Day celebration. It was an act of domination and therefore division.
“It shouldn’t happen again.”
In the Commons, Sir Keir went on to say: “When I see religious events in Trafalgar Square, when I see Hindus celebrating Diwali, when I see Jews celebrating Chanukah live, when I see Christians performing the Passion of the Christ, or Muslims praying, that shows the great strength of our diverse city and country.
“I’ve never heard her party call out anything other than the Muslim events. It’s only when Muslims are praying. The only conclusion is the Tory Party has got a problem with Muslims.”
A spokesman for Badenoch said she stood by Timothy, adding: “The Conservative Party believes in British values and those British values mean we are an open and tolerant society, but with boundaries.
“And freedom of religion does not mean the freedom to do anything. It comes with responsibilities.
“People are free to practise their faith but that practice does not require exclusionary use of our shared civic spaces. That is not about worship. It becomes something else which undermines social cohesion. So that is where we draw the line. And that is what Nick Timothy was talking about.”
He conceded that he did not have proof that women had been specifically excluded, but said it was clear from the pictures that it was “exclusionary” because women were “outside the barriers”.
He would not be drawn on whether a Conservative government would ban single sex gatherings, saying it was about the “principle” of not having public events where women were excluded.
He denied the Conservatives were singling out one religion, saying: “The Conservatives had the first Muslim chancellor and had the first Muslim home secretary.”