Overview
- On his Talk 'Ring Rob' phone-in, the shadow justice secretary said he would 'probably' ban the burqa, arguing the need to defend 'basic values'.
- He cited Giorgia Meloni’s proposed Italian ban and noted existing face-covering prohibitions in France, Belgium, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland.
- Suella Braverman and Conservative chair Kevin Hollinrake signaled support for a ban, underscoring visible divisions within the Conservatives.
- A No 10 spokesperson stressed Britain’s tradition of religious tolerance and the legal right to wear religious attire, as Labour’s Sam Rushworth called the stance 'anti-British' and the Muslim Council of Britain denounced it.
- Badenoch has rejected a nationwide prohibition as ineffective for integration and has backed employers setting their own rules on face coverings, questioning how a blanket ban could be enforced.