Demonstrators opposing a £2.5million mosque in the Lake District have been branded racist by their local Labour MP, as rival groups clashed outside the construction site on Saturday.
Police were called to the South Lakes Islamic Centre building site on Ulverston Road in Dalton-in-Furness, where two groups of protesters faced off across the road. One group supporting the mosque held placards reading “Muslims welcome here,” whilst opponents waved Union flags with messages including “No to the mosque” and “Not racist! Just patriotic!”
Michelle Scrogham, the Labour MP for Barrow and Furness who attended the counter-protest, condemned the opposition to the mosque. “There’s absolutely no place for racism in Cumbria,” she said. “The comments that plague the social media pages constantly don’t represent the people of this area.”
MP Defends Immigration History
The newly-elected MP, who has lived in Ulverston her entire life and previously served as the town’s mayor, claimed the area had welcomed immigration for generations. “The people of this area have always been incredibly welcoming,” Scrogham stated. “We’ve had immigration on a mass scale for many, many years.”
She added: “Anybody that wants to come here and say you’re not welcome, they’re wrong. It’s just utterly wrong.”
Scrogham, who was elected in July 2024 after defeating Conservative incumbent Simon Fell, co-owns a clothing boutique in Ulverston town centre with her sister. She has been married to Graham Scrogham, who succeeded her as mayor of Ulverston, since 1991.
Centre Serves Medical Professionals
The Islamic centre is being established by Muslim doctors at Furness General Hospital who have been seeking a place of worship nearby. The charity behind the project states the facility will cater to the 40 to 50 practising Muslim doctors at the hospital and their families.
Planning documents submitted with the initial proposal describe the centre as providing “a facility that offers public prayer space for the Muslim Community in the local area and beyond.” The documents add that the facility will provide “a public community space which is accessible to all.”
The centre gained planning permission in December 2022 despite 30 objections being raised. It will be the first mosque within a 50-mile radius, with the nearest currently located in Lancaster.
Construction Challenges
A spokesman for the centre claimed that opposition has affected construction progress. The concrete, which was supposed to come this week, has been delayed because of the GB News coverage,” the spokesman said. “It’s just the challenges we face… It’s a difficult area to build, but we are progressing very quickly.”
The spokesman added that local suppliers had initially refused to deal with mosque representatives, though some have since reconsidered their position.
Paul Jenkins, who organised the counter-protest on behalf of Furness Stand Up To Racism, said: “The protest against the Islamic Centre does not speak for the majority of people in Dalton or Furness. The majority of our people here are from Furness, including Dalton. We celebrate our multicultural, multi-faith community and defend the right of the Islamic Centre to be here.”
Britain First Involvement
The controversy has escalated since far-right group Britain First became involved in April 2025. The group’s co-leaders Paul Golding and Ashlea Simon held a banner reading “no mosque here” during a visit to the site and launched a petition calling for planning permission to be revoked, which has gathered over 70,000 signatures.
Britain First, which emerged from the British National Party, has been condemned by local politicians. MP Scrogham stated: “Britain First are not welcome in Barrow and Furness where, for generations, we are proud to have a community which supports one another.”
The group has described the centre as a “mega mosque” despite it being located eight miles from the Lake District National Park boundary. Anti Racist Cumbria, a local charity, has accused Britain First of spreading disinformation, stating: “They are calling it a ‘mega mosque’ when in reality it is planned to be a privately funded Islamic Community Centre with prayer rooms.”
Previous Protests
This is not the first time the site has seen demonstrations. In June, supporters of the centre held banners reading “stop the far-right” and chanted: “Say it loud, say it clear, Islamic centre is welcome here.”
Police implemented a dispersal order during Saturday’s protests, giving officers enhanced powers to stop and search individuals and require the removal of face coverings. Superintendent Paddy O’Hara said: “The dispersal order and the powers which have been authorised are in place to protect our communities.”
Correcting Misinformation
Westmorland and Furness Council has issued a factsheet to correct what it calls misinformation about the project. Councillor Matt Brereton said: “There has been a great deal of misinformation spread to whip up local tensions around this application. The fact of the matter is the Furness peninsula I know is a really welcoming place.”
He added: “It’s clear the misinformation being spread online is not being done by local people because anyone who is local knows that Dalton-in-Furness is about a 30 minute drive away from the nearest boundary to the national park.”
The South Lakes Islamic Centre is a registered charity (number 1182304) based at Crooklands Brow in Dalton-in-Furness. The organisation states its vision is “to facilitate South Lakes to be the place of choice to raise a devout Muslim family.”
Community Tensions
The controversy has exposed divisions within the local community. Social media posts have included comments calling the structure “absolutely disgusting” and a “blight” on the natural environment, with one resident writing: “There goes the beautiful Lake District – with a huge building plonked there.”
However, supporters argue these views don’t represent the wider community. Mandy Penellum, secretary of Barrow’s Trades Council, said the centre represents the town’s “diverse and inclusive identity.” She stated: “We’ve always been a welcoming and tolerant community.”
Mohammed Ramzan, a local Muslim resident, expressed hurt at the opposition. “It’s just the animosity that’s been caused, and the misinformation that’s been spread around the area,” he said. “You think that these people that you’ve shared bread with, you’ve gone out with, you’ve drank with, you’ve had a life with and all of a sudden these big bad Muslims are coming in, and they’re not, we’ve already been here.”
Demographic Context
Cumbria has a Muslim population of approximately 0.4%, according to recent census data. The county currently has three mosques serving this community. The establishment of the Dalton-in-Furness centre has been described by supporters as reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and religious diversity despite the small size of the Muslim population.
The Islamic centre’s supporters believe it will have positive economic implications for the area, potentially attracting visitors who will support local businesses. They also emphasise its role as a hub for cultural exchange and community activities, with plans for educational programmes and interfaith dialogue.
As construction continues amid ongoing tensions, the South Lakes Islamic Centre remains committed to its goal of opening by the end of 2025, though fundraising efforts continue with more than £1 million still needed to complete the project.
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