Labour MP admits Burqa 'concern' but says ban WON’T happen after Reform probe

The Labour MP emphasised the party's commitment to religious freedom, noting that "many women, Muslim women, do decide to wear the Burqa."

His comments came after Pochin used her first PMQs appearance to ask whether the Prime Minister would follow European countries that have banned face coverings in public places.

Whilst defending religious freedom, Tapp acknowledged concerns about women being forced to wear face coverings against their will.

"There is concern around coercive control and if a woman is being forced to wear any item of clothing, that is likely to part of a bigger problem within that relationship," he told GB News.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Boris Johnson comeback bid scuppered as ex-PM fails to win over Reform UK voters
• Sarah Pochin reveals why she thinks Keir Starmer ‘dodged’ bombshell Burqa PMQs probe
• Sarah Pochin's call to 'ban the Burqa' opposed by Chris Philp: 'People should wear what they want!'

He linked this to broader government efforts on domestic abuse, explaining "which is why Jess Phillips and the Home Office are strengthening those laws around violence against women and girls to include coercive control and make it as serious as physical abuse."

Tapp, who has worked in counterterrorism, noted that "police can ask people to remove any face covering if they believe there is cause to do so."

Pochin, the newly elected MP for Runcorn and Helsby, asked Starmer: "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?"

Her question prompted gasps and what some described as an outraged reaction from MPs in the House of Commons.

Starmer responded: "I'm not going to follow her down that line."

The Prime Minister then pivoted to attack Reform UK's spending plans, calling them "Liz Truss all over again" and noting that Pochin had been a Conservative member when Truss was leader.

Tapp drew on his counterterrorism experience to dismiss security concerns, stating: "I can assure you, the Burqa is not a security threat. I've worked in counterterrorism in the past and police can ask people to remove face coverings if required to do so."

When challenged by GB News host Martin Daubney that constituents might want this conversation, Tapp responded: "It's never come up on the doors. I knocked on around 50,000 doors in the lead-up to the election. Not once."

He insisted voters' priorities were different: "What came up was hospitals, policing, our armed forces. That's what we're dealing with now."