Robert Jenrick accused of being ‘anti-British’ as he backs burqa ban
Robert Jenrick was accused of making “anti-British” comments when he suggested he would ban the burqa in the UK.
The shadow justice minister, who has been tipped as a potential successor to the struggling Kemi Badenoch, pointed to Italy, where prime minister Giorgia Meloni recently proposed outlawing traditional Muslim dress in public places.
Labor MP Sam Rushworth also hit back, describing comments that put Mr Jenrick at odds with Conservative Party leader Ms Badenoch as “anti-British” and saying they were “against what our nation stands for”.
Ms Badenoch has previously rejected the idea of a ban, saying the move “will not solve the problem of cultural separatism”.
Mr Jenrick told him: Ring Robbery Program on Talk: “I would probably ban the burqa.”
“There are fundamental values in this country and we need to stand up and defend them,” he said.
He added: “Whether it’s Sharia courts or the wearing of the burqa, when you see these being frayed at the edges or frankly destroyed completely, these are issues that we’re going to have to confront if we want to build the kind of society that we want to leave to our children and grandchildren.”
Ms Badenoch suggested employers should have the right to prevent staff from wearing such clothing in the workplace earlier this year, but opposed the nationwide ban.
He said: “France has a ban and they have worse problems with integration than we have in this country. So outright banning the burqa is not going to solve things.”
The Conservative Party leader added that he would not allow people wearing veils into surgeries in his constituency because he has “strong views on face coverings”.
Former Prime Minister Theresa May has previously said the government should not tell women what to wear when it comes to burqas.
Mr Jenrick was recently embroiled in a fierce row after complaining that he “didn’t see another white face” during a 90-minute visit to Handsworth, Birmingham, this year.
“This is not the country I want to live in,” he said, adding that it was “not about the color of your skin or your faith” but about “people living with each other.”
Earlier this month, Italy’s ruling Brothers of Italy party said it planned to introduce legislation to ban the burqa, saying it was a move against “Islamic separatism”.
Recently elected Reform MP Sarah Pochin also called on Sir Keir Starmer to ban the burqa earlier this year.
But a Reform spokesman later clarified that it was not party policy to ban burqas, prompting calls from the far right for Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to adopt the proposals.
And in an extraordinary turn, the Reform chief branded him a “fool” for making the request.
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