The Anglican Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir Ali, has announced his intention to step down so that he can give more time to supporting under-pressure Christians around the world.

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, who earlier caused anger by suggesting some Muslim communities were ‘no go areas’ has created a fresh argument by claiming that the collapse of a ‘Christian nation’ has left Britain in a moral vacuum.

The Bishop of Rochester has been strongly criticised for his claims that Islamic extremism has turned some communities into no-go areas, and that Britain is disintegrating because it is no longer seen as a Christian nation.