Sarah Pochin’s call for the burka to be banned is an important one and deserves to be debated, Nigel Farage has said on GB News.
The Reform UK leader spoke in response to his MP’s first ever Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) probe where she told Keir Starmer to follow some of her European counterparts by banning the face covering.
Nigel recalled a personal instance from just days ago that he feels gives Pochin’s point of view some credence.
“I think this debate actually goes beyond the burka”, he said.
Nigel spoke about his MP's first PMQs question
GB NEWS / PARLIAMENT / GETTY
“She listed some European countries but I am going to add to that. Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Tunisia.
“In Asia, China, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. There are many, many countries around the world banning the burka.
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“I actually think it goes further than that. Sarah said, ‘in the interest of public safety’. I was in Aberdeen on Monday and there was a mob there to meet me. An organisation called Antifa.
“Half of them had complete face coverings on so they would be unidentifiable.
Nigel Farage's Reform UK is yet to adopt an official position on burkas
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“I don’t think face coverings in public don’t make sense and I think we deserve a debate about that of which I see the burka of being a part.”
The Runcorn and Helsby MP, who won her seat in a by-election on 1 May, 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 burka?"
The burka is a garment worn by some Muslim women that fully covers the body and face. Several European countries have introduced bans on full-face veils over the past 15 years.
The Prime Minister declined to engage with the question, responding: "Can I welcome her to her place, but I'm not going to follow her down that line."
Sarah Pochin stunned Parliament by raising the question during PMQs PARLIAMENTStarmer instead turned his attention to Reform UK's economic policies.
"Now she is here, and safely in her place, perhaps she can tell her new party leader that his latest plan to spend £80 billion of unfunded tax cuts with no idea how he's going to pay for it, is Liz Truss all over again," he said.
The Prime Minister then noted that Pochin had been a Conservative member when Liz Truss was leader, adding: "Although, considering I think she was a Conservative member when Liz Truss was leader, she probably won't."
Pochin's question prompted audible groans from across the chamber, with some MPs gasping at the proposal. However, at least one MP was heard saying "hear, hear" in support.
Reform UK quickly distanced itself from the proposal. The party confirmed that banning the burqa is "not party policy but it needs a national debate, which is what the House is for".
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