The Archbishop of Canterbury provoked a media storm, and universal criticism from the main political parties, by arguing on Thursday that the adoption of aspects of Sharia law in the UK “seems unavoidable”.

Rowan Williams’ call to allow British Muslims to use “some aspects” of Sharia law is certain to fuel the debate over multiculturalism. The head of the Church of England argued the principle of “one law for everybody” was a “bit of a danger” that could force Muslims to choose between the “stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty”.