Keighley and Ilkley MP Kris Hopkins has written to the Justice Secretary stating his opposition to the establishment of Sharia courts.

He was speaking after Bradford Council for Mosques issued a statement calling on the Government to “recognise” the work of Sharia courts, and for them to be “better resourced with an agreed framework”.

However, in his letter to Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, Mr Hopkins said he was “absolutely opposed to any proposal for the establishment of a state-sponsored, alternative judicial process in any part of the United Kingdom”.

“There can only be one set of laws in this country, and we must not countenance the concept of different ethnic groups setting up their own court rooms of convenience,” he said. “As the Cabinet Minister with responsibility for our judicial system, I trust you will use your offices to protect its integrity by rejecting any approaches to recognise or give any credence to Sharia courts which have neither jurisdiction nor legitimacy in this country.”