CONTROVERSIAL Government plans to review Sharia law appear to be on the back-burner, provoking a mixed reaction from Bradford MPs.

Just two months ago, Home Secretary Theresa May demanded an inquiry, as part of a crackdown on extremism “in all its forms”.

In a high-profile speech, Miss May claimed Sharia law was being used to “discriminate against women” and was becoming more widespread.

And she said: “There is evidence of women being 'divorced' under Sharia law and left in penury, wives who are forced to return to abusive relationships because Sharia councils say a husband has a right to 'chastise', and Sharia councils giving the testimony of a woman only half the weight of the testimony of a man.”

But the review was not mentioned in the Extremism Bill, put forward in this week's Queen’s Speech for the next parliamentary session, prompting suggestions it had been shelved.

Instead, the legislation focuses on banning orders for extremist organisations which use hate speech in public places and powers to close premises where extremists seek to influence others.

The apparent rethink was welcomed by Labour MPs in Bradford, who argued the review was not necessary and had been “pre-election scaremongering”.

Naz Shah, the Bradford West MP, said: “We don’t have Sharia law in this country, so what is there to review?

“That’s talking about women’s rights, which is a wholly different subject and about women being able to access services according to a cultural context.”

And Imran Hussain, the Bradford East MP, said: “That was a pre-election speech and was simply scaremongering voters before an election. I eagerly await the details.”

But Kris Hopkins, the Keighley MP and Government whip, said: “I don’t think there is a place for Sharia law in this country.

“I have not seen the detail of what’s in the Queen’s Speech, but that’s what I believe is right.

“I can respect different judicial systems in other countries, but in Britain we have one judicial system – and that’s the one I recognise.”

In a Commons debate last year, Mr Hopkins urged David Cameron to rule out any sponsoring of Sharia courts, following controversy over talks in Bradford.

The Bradford Council of Mosques was in talks to start up a local Sharia panel that would offer advice and deal with legal issues within the Muslim community.

It called for Sharia councils to be better resourced and recognised by the Government, but insisted the move would not create “a parallel competing court structure”.

A Home Office spokesman said the Extremism Bill was just “one element” of a wider strategy on tackling extremism to be published shortly.

But he added: “I’m not in a position to see whether a review of Sharia law will be one of the measures in that strategy.”