Matthew Offord MP : Sharia Law for Hendon - Conservative Chairmans opinion

On Sunday we detailed how Matthew Offord was asking residents whether they supported a Sharia law style Compsory Sobriety Scheme in a leaflet delivered around Hendon constituency.

Following rumours, Local Conservative party chairman Hugh Rayner contacted the Barnet Eye to give his views on the proposal. Councillor Hugh Rayner stated "I have not expressed an opinion".  Thanks to Hugh for clearing that up

Matthew Offord MP - Time for Sharia Law in Hendon?

This morning, as I sobered up after a heavy night of celebrating, following Manchester City winning the FA cup semi final against Manchester United, I was truly gobsmacked to read the latest leaflet from our local MP Matthew Offord. Mr Offord has a "Local Resident Questionairre" on his leaflet. Question 4 is the following :-

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Do you support a Compulsory Sobriety Scheme to tackle drunkeness and violence?

This was the first I'd heard of such a proposal for Hendon. The only countries where I was aware that Compulsory Sobriety was enforced were those living under Sharia Law, such as Saudi Arabia. Now I think it is no secret that Mr Offord likes a tipple, so what on earth is this all about? I've seen no plans, there is nothing on his website. It seems truly bizarre that he should ask us to support a scheme, which he doesn't mention in the leaflet and he doesn't explain what the implications are.

Does Mr Offord realise that there is already a compulsory Sobriety scheme in place for offenders and lawbreakers? It's called prison. I fully support the concept of locking people up who break the law. Sadly, the Tories are cutting the number of front line Policemen to implement the scheme. I support the idea of giving offenders the opportunity to enroll in schemes to combat alcoholism, in exchange for lighter sentences. I don't support big brother state bossing citizens around against their will.

Drinking alcohol is a fundamental part of our culture. It isn't always done responsibly, but then short of implanting "behaviour regulation chips" in our brains, many things will cause bad behaviour. I suspect that plenty of violence is a direct result of arguments about sexual relationships. Is that the next area to be targetted in Offords drive for Sharia Law in Hendon? If young men were completely segregated from women, forced to only drink water and pray five times a day when the football was on, I'm sure that Hendon would be far calmer place to live. However I personally don't want to live under Sharia Law, where such measures are compulsory. I don't want to live in a country where the state micro manages our lives. I like it here, where we all misbehave from time to time. I'm quite amazed that a Tory MP should even begin to propose such a thing.

I'm quite sure that when the local Tories read this blog they will claim I've misinterpreted what Offord was trying to say. Well, if that's the case, why hasn't he laid out what his scheme entails, why he asked the question and what he wants to see. This strikes me as a crafty attempt to trick people into supporting a scheme which they would totally reject if they were asked if they wanted a "Sharia style ban on drinking alcohol"

Boris Johnson backs Sharia Law !

I have strong views on capital punishment. I'd never sanction it. There have been to many mistakes, too many miscarriages of justice, too many innocent men convicted.

Likewise I'd never support Sharia law. I don't mind Muslims seeking adjudication in civil matters as happens in Jewish Rabbinical courts. It might save a bit of money and if both sides are happy, fine. It can never take precedence over English law.


A conversation with a Tory friend on the subject was quite revealing. We were discussing capital punishment, the birch and treatment of offenders. I asked his views on Sharia law. I got a lecture on how immigrants should obey the law of the land. I then pointed out that he'd just been advocating many of the better known aspects of it. State execution & beatings.

I know where my line is drawn in the sand is drawn. My friend doesn't. He'd like to see hoodlums flogged, murderers hung, rapists castrated. He couldn't say whether the rapists should get their nuts sown back on if sometime down the line the lady in question admits that she'd made the story up to keep her boyfriend quiet (happened to someone I know).

I thought I'd see if any well known Tories actually backed Sharia Law and guess who popped up. None other than our Boris. Speaking to the Islington Tribune, he suggested Sharia Law for Cycle theives ! The trouble with Sharia law is that the menu isn't a la Carte, it's a set meal. I don't think religion and lawmaking should ever mix. It is just too open to abuse and intolerance. For all I know Boris Johnson may have had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he was speaking. The trouble is that in other places his commens will be seen as positive affermation of the effect of Sharia. Religious courts will say "Even the Mayor of London acknowledges that it is effective". Public life should always be about engaging ones brain prior to speaking.