Yes, British law is the law of the land, and everyone must abide by it. But it’s important to understand that religious councils (like Shariah councils or Jewish Beth Din courts) don’t override UK law — they operate in specific, voluntary religious or civil matters within the framework of British law.
For example, the Beth Din in Judaism handles religious divorces for Jewish couples — in a similar way, Shariah councils help Muslim couples seeking an Islamic divorce. These decisions are not legally binding unless both parties choose to follow them, and they don’t replace the UK legal process. Anyone still has the right to go through the family courts, which have the final legal say.
It’s worth pointing out that many religions have internal tribunals or councils — it’s not unique to Islam. What’s essential is that all these operate within the law, not outside of it.