Arun Arora

Former Zutons member badly hurt in racist attack bbc.in/4soKSgx

The arson attack on 4 ambulances from the Jewish volunteer service Hatzola in Golders Green is absolutely horrific. This shocking antisemitic act is condemned. We must stand together against antisemitic hatred. Our thoughts are with the Jewish community at this distressing time.

Prince William keen to build 'strong and meaningful' bond with Church bbc.in/4uM3hW6

Holding in prayer both those in Golders Green and the Jewish Community here in Leeds feeling fearful after this antisemitic attack.

@Adrian_Hilton That was Peter Osborne’s view. Not mine.

@RevArun Arun, you yourself reposted a demand for Nick to be sacked.

I don't entirely agree with Nick Timothy on banning Islamic prayer in Trafalgar Square, and have explained why. But what I find interesting about the intervention of Church of England bishops is the immediate push-back they give, once again, to the political right while the left is given a perpetual free pass. The Bishop of Kirkstall believes the essential Christian mission to be “to seek the common good and to live at peace with our neighbour”; the Bishop of Willesden that “our diversity is not a problem to be solved, but a resource to be cherished”. What neither addresses is the gospel response to the public proclamation: ‘I bear witness that there is no god but Allah. I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’ The Bishops seem to have no problem at all with Mohammed being named in Westminster Abbey in the succession of prophets “from Adam, Noah and Abraham to Moses, Jesus and Mohammed Mustafa”, yet if he was a prophet, Jesus is not the Son of God. Nick Timothy has stated the orthodox position that Mohammed was a false prophet, but which bishops have done so? Ah, but their mission is the common good, the pursuit of diversity, and living peacably with our neighbour. Does that gospel save? Is their soteriological understanding that salvation is universal? When did it become ‘right wing’ to express that Jesus alone saves, or that Christianity is and should remain preeminent in the Constitution? It seems to me that what Nick has done is to initiate a debate, but instead of engaging with the social theology of his concerns, the political left and the Bishops (if they are not the same thing) seek to shut it down or to make such thinking unutterable. “Sack him!” they cry, instead of addressing his argument. What exactly is wrong with a debate about the public expression of the Islamic faith and how, with demographic change and the rise of Islam in society, that increasingly impinges upon the continuing freedom of Christians to express their faith, and of Jews to live in safety and security?

@Adrian_Hilton Thanks Adrian. Would genuinely value picking this up with you directly. As it is I don’t think any bishop has called for Nick to be sacked. Can you DM me your email ?

Hi Arun. I'm familiar with the late Queen's speech at LP. Indeed, I wrote about it at the time, and have referred to it often since. She articulated perfectly the essential Anglican missiological understanding of freedom of religion as it relates to the practice of other faiths in the public realm. As I said, I don't agree with Nick's view of Muslim prayer at Trafalgar Square, but his theological and sociological concerns are not unimportant. Far easier, of course, to call him racist and Islamophobic and demand that he be sacked. But that's where we are. I just don't think bishops in the Church of England should be doing that.

God help us. This is disgraceful language coming from a Christian, or anyone with a soul. It was just as wrong to celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk as it is to celebrate that of Robert Mueller. May they rest in peace. And may we never forget that Jesus's message is about mercy.

"We cannot, with integrity, defend the public role of Christianity while questioning the visibility of other traditions. To do so would be not only inconsistent, but unjust." Bishop of Willesden, CofE lead on interfaith engagement: churchofengland.org/media/news-and…

A massive turnout of hundreds of anti-fascists in Liverpool has effectively occupied the rallying point of today’s UKIP march outside the city’s Catholic cathedral. Christian vicars and priests much in evidence amongst the anti-racist demonstrators, plainly outraged by the fascists claim that their event is a ‘Walk with Jesus’. The few fascists who have assembled so far are sandwiched in between large groups of anti-fascists wholly surrounded and protected by a massive police presence. It won’t be a comfortable afternoon for them. More to come…

An excellent study morning led by the brilliant @TheWomanfredi Grateful for her wisdom and reflections today.

@theweeflea @FraserNelson Hey David ! Good to hear from you again. Hope all well with you.

@FraserNelson If only he had something specifically Christian to say - rather than just repeat the mantras of the political class!

So far, Christian leaders have been absent from a debate, led by politicians, about the place of faith in public life. So good to see the Bishop of Kirkstall give his perspective.

@FraserNelson Thank you Fraser.

@mgshanks Thank you Michael.

Bravo the Bishop of Kirkstall, who explains and models British values far better than the narrow mindedness of Nick Timothy and the modern Conservative Party.

@razirahman Thank you Razi.

Well said @RevArun

@andrewpakes_ Bless you old friend.

@GloriaDePiero Right backatcha x

The fabulous @RevArun. Proud to call this man my friend.

@MatthewStadlen Thanks Matthew. That’s kind.

Superb Anglican Bishop on Newsnight dismantling Danny Kruger’s defence of Nick Timothy’s comments about Muslim prayers in Trafalgar Square.

Edward Heath sacked Powell. Kemi Badenoch defended Timothy on the basis he was defending British values. In this column for Middle East Eye I argue that last week was the defining moment for Badenoch's Tory Party as a cesspit of hatred and bigotry: middleeasteye.net/opinion/nick-t…