Express readers have made their opinion on banning the burqa in Britain clear in a poll. The garment covers the entire body, including the face, with an opening at the eyes so the wearer can see. This is seen by some Muslims as a sign of modesty and piety. Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Reform UK’s MP for Runcorn and Helsby Sarah Pochin, who was elected at a by-election last month, said: “Given the Prime Minister’s desire to strengthen strategic alignment with our European neighbours, will he in the interests of public safety follow the lead of France, Denmark, Belgium and others and ban the burqa?”
Sir Keir Starmer did not answer Ms Pochin’s question, instead slamming Nigel Farage over his speech on the economy last week. The Prime Minister said: “Can I welcome her to her place, but I’m not going to follow her down that line. “But now she is here and safely in her place, perhaps she could tell her new party leader that his latest plan to bet £80 billion of unfunded tax cuts, with no idea how he’s going to pay for it, is Liz Truss all over again.
“Although considering I think [Ms Pochin] was a Conservative member when Liz Truss was leader, she probably won’t.”
When he was the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy introduced a ban on the burqa in France in 2010.
It meant anyone found wearing the covering in a public space can face a fine of €150 (£125).
The move has since been unsuccessfully challenged in the European courts.
Belgium rolled out a similar ban a year later, and other countries, such as Denmark and Austria, have similar laws.
Switzerland introduced a prohibition on January 1 this year.
Poll results
Now, 96% of Express readers have said in a poll that the UK should follow suit and ban the item of religious clothing.
Only 3%, meanwhile, said no.
The survey suggests 1% said they don’t know.
Former Conservative Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on X after the exchange in the Commons yesterday: “After failing to answer any of Kemi’s questions, he basically said to Sarah Pochin that he didn’t like her question, so ‘wasn’t going to engage with it’.
“Refusing to answer MPs’ questions isn’t an option as a Government minister.”
