How have UK Muslims' attitudes toward Sharia law changed over time in national surveys?
Executive summary
National surveys show mixed and changing views among UK Muslims about sharia: Policy Exchange/ICM in 2016 found about 40% supported “the introduction of aspects of sharia” (16% “strongly” and 25% “tend to support”) while other polls and summaries have reported figures ranging from about 29–40% expressing some preference for sharia or its elements [1] [2] [3] [4]. More recent single polls cited in media (e.g., JL Partners / GBNews) have suggested nearly one-third find implementation “desirable” within two decades, but methodologies and media framing differ across reports [5].
1. Big studies vs headlines: the data landscape
Large surveys such as the Policy Exchange/ICM study reported that 43% of respondents supported “the introduction of Sharia law” when asked in broad terms, with 16% “strongly” in favour and 25% saying they “tend to support” — a finding the think‑tank described as support for “aspects” or “provisions” rather than wholesale legal replacement [1] [2]. Smaller or single‑question polls circulated by newspapers and broadcasters have produced different headline numbers — for example, an ICM result widely reported as “40% of British Muslims want Sharia law” [4] [6]. Those variations reflect differences in question wording, sampling and reporting rather than a single stable percentage [1].
2. Wording matters: “aspects”, “areas”, and “instead of British law”
Policy Exchange emphasised that respondents were asked about sharia “in the broadest sense” and that support often related to “particular aspects” rather than full replacement of British law; the report notes a sizable share did not express strong support overall [1]. Channel 4’s survey questions similarly explored attitudes to whether there should be “areas of Britain” applying sharia instead of British law, showing how phrasing (complete legal substitution vs limited local or personal application) changes responses and interpretation [7]. Coverage by groups such as the National Secular Society highlighted that many respondents favored specific provisions rather than wholesale change [2].
3. Change over time and generational signals
Policy Exchange contrasted its 2016 findings with a 2007 poll that had suggested younger Muslims were more likely to favour sharia; by 2016 the think‑tank claimed the appeal was “diminishing”, particularly among younger respondents — though the same dataset still recorded notable support for particular sharia provisions [8] [1] [2]. Available sources do not provide a continuous time series in this packet to map a clear upward or downward trend beyond those comparisons (not found in current reporting).
4. Media framing and political agendas
Different outlets framed similar numbers to serve distinct narratives. Right‑leaning or alarmist headlines emphasised “40% want sharia” or that a large minority find implementation “desirable” [4] [6] [5]. Policy Exchange, a centre‑right think‑tank, published the underlying survey and highlighted both the support for aspects of sharia and caveats about question wording [1]. Advocacy organisations and commentators cherry‑pick figures to advance secularist, religious, integrationist or security agendas; sources show the same survey is used to argue both that many Muslims seek sharia provisions and that most British Muslims are integrated and reject extremism [1] [2].
5. Recent single polls and their limits
A 2024/2025 media-cited JL Partners poll (reported by GB News) claimed “almost a third” of British Muslims would find it desirable to implement sharia within 20 years, and noted related attitudes toward Hamas — but the article provides limited methodological detail in these snippets, making it hard to compare with large academic or think‑tank studies [5]. Collated summaries by advocacy groups cite figures like 29% preferring sharia over British law, again without full methodological transparency [3]. These variations show the need to inspect survey questions, sampling frames and weighting before drawing policy conclusions [5] [3].
6. What the surveys do and do not say
The surveys repeatedly show significant nuance: many respondents support certain sharia provisions for personal or family matters, but that does not necessarily translate into support for replacing British civil or criminal law [1] [2]. Sources note high levels of attachment to Britain among Muslims and disagreement with extremism alongside the pockets of support for sharia provisions [1]. Available sources do not provide comprehensive, methodologically comparable longitudinal polling stretching across multiple decades within this packet, so definitive claims about a uniform trend over time are not supported here (not found in current reporting).
7. Bottom line for readers
Across major polls cited here, roughly three in ten to four in ten UK Muslims express support for some form of sharia or sharia provisions depending on how questions are asked [1] [2] [4] [3]. Interpretations diverge sharply: some commentators treat that as evidence of systemic opposition to British law, while the survey authors and other analysts stress context — specific aspects, personal choice, and strong overall attachment to Britain — that undercut alarmist readings [1] [2]. Inspect question wording and methodology before accepting headline claims.