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| Reform MP's burka ban call was dumb, says party chair | Reform MP's burka ban call was dumb, says party chair |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Watch: Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin calls on PM to ban the burka | Watch: Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin calls on PM to ban the burka |
| Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf says it was "dumb" for the party's newest MP to call on Sir Keir Starmer to ban the burka. | Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf says it was "dumb" for the party's newest MP to call on Sir Keir Starmer to ban the burka. |
| Sarah Pochin - who won last month's Runcorn and Helsby by-election - urged the prime minister to ban the garment "in the interests of public safety" during her prime minister's questions debut on Wednesday. | Sarah Pochin - who won last month's Runcorn and Helsby by-election - urged the prime minister to ban the garment "in the interests of public safety" during her prime minister's questions debut on Wednesday. |
| Her call appeared to go down well with her new colleagues on the Reform benches, even though it was rejected by the PM. | Her call appeared to go down well with her new colleagues on the Reform benches, even though it was rejected by the PM. |
| But Zia Yusuf suggested she should have chosen a different topic for her first PMQs question, writing on social media: "I do think it's dumb for a party to ask the PM if they would do something the party itself wouldn't do". | But Zia Yusuf suggested she should have chosen a different topic for her first PMQs question, writing on social media: "I do think it's dumb for a party to ask the PM if they would do something the party itself wouldn't do". |
| A burka ban was not a Reform UK policy at last year's general election. | A burka ban was not a Reform UK policy at last year's general election. |
| Pochin suggested the question had been recommended to her during a crowd-sourcing exercise for ideas. | Pochin suggested the question had been recommended to her during a crowd-sourcing exercise for ideas. |
| She wrote on social media: "Thank you to everyone who sent in questions for the prime minister. | She wrote on social media: "Thank you to everyone who sent in questions for the prime minister. |
| "I've chosen one and will be asking it just after 12 noon today in the House of Commons." | "I've chosen one and will be asking it just after 12 noon today in the House of Commons." |
| The burka is a one-piece veil worn by some Muslim women that covers the face and body, often leaving just a mesh screen to see through. | The burka is a one-piece veil worn by some Muslim women that covers the face and body, often leaving just a mesh screen to see through. |
| It is more concealing than the niqab, a face veil that leaves the area around the eyes clear, and hijab, a term that describes headscarves that in the West most commonly cover the head and neck but leave the face clear. | It is more concealing than the niqab, a face veil that leaves the area around the eyes clear, and hijab, a term that describes headscarves that in the West most commonly cover the head and neck but leave the face clear. |
| Several countries have introduced restrictions on where the burka or niqab can be worn. | Several countries have introduced restrictions on where the burka or niqab can be worn. |
| France banned the wearing of veils intended to conceal the face in public in 2010, with similar bans in place in Denmark, Belgium, and Austria. | France banned the wearing of veils intended to conceal the face in public in 2010, with similar bans in place in Denmark, Belgium, and Austria. |
| During PMQs on Wednesday, Pochin asked: "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?" | During PMQs on Wednesday, Pochin asked: "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 replied that he was "not going to follow her down that line". | Sir Keir replied that he was "not going to follow her down that line". |
| 'Relevant debate' | 'Relevant debate' |
| Shortly afterwards, Reform's chief whip Lee Anderson welcomed Pochin's question, writing on social media: "Ban the burqa? Yes we should". | Shortly afterwards, Reform's chief whip Lee Anderson welcomed Pochin's question, writing on social media: "Ban the burqa? Yes we should". |
| "No one should be allowed to hide their identity in public," he added. | "No one should be allowed to hide their identity in public," he added. |
| However, some media outlets quoted a Reform spokesman saying it was "not party policy," although it was an issue that "needs a national debate". | However, some media outlets quoted a Reform spokesman saying it was "not party policy," although it was an issue that "needs a national debate". |
| In a social media post on Wednesday, Yusuf said he had "learnt about the question and the party's position re: it not being policy for the first time on my X feed". | |
| He added he was "busy with UK DOGE" - referring to the party's plan for local spending audits in the style of Tesla boss and former Trump adviser Elon Musk. | |
| Speaking during his GB News show on Wednesday night, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Pochin's question had sparked a "relevant debate," adding: "I think people do feel uncomfortable, actually, around people whose faces are covered". | Speaking during his GB News show on Wednesday night, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Pochin's question had sparked a "relevant debate," adding: "I think people do feel uncomfortable, actually, around people whose faces are covered". |
| "I don't think face coverings in public places makes sense – and I think we do deserve a debate about that, of which I see the burka as being a part". | "I don't think face coverings in public places makes sense – and I think we do deserve a debate about that, of which I see the burka as being a part". |
| Pochin, a former Conservative councillor, became Reform UK's fifth MP last month when she narrowly defeated Labour in a by-election in the Cheshire constituency of Runcorn and Helsby. | Pochin, a former Conservative councillor, became Reform UK's fifth MP last month when she narrowly defeated Labour in a by-election in the Cheshire constituency of Runcorn and Helsby. |
| A Labour spokesperson said: "Nigel Farage could fit all of his MPs in the back of a cab, yet he can't stop them fighting among themselves". | A Labour spokesperson said: "Nigel Farage could fit all of his MPs in the back of a cab, yet he can't stop them fighting among themselves". |
| Farage backed a burka ban in public places in 2010, when he was an MEP and leader of Ukip's 13 members of the European Parliament, calling it a symbol of an "increasingly divided Britain". | |
| Ukip went on to propose a ban in public buildings and "certain private buildings" in its manifesto for the general election that year, under former leader Lord Pearson of Rannoch. | |
| The BBC has approached Reform UK and Pochin for a comment. | The BBC has approached Reform UK and Pochin for a comment. |