Nigel Farage has called for a debate on face coverings in public after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni put forward legislation to ban the burka.
Italy's ruling Brothers of Italy party presented a bill to parliament on Wednesday which would prohibit garments covering the face, including the burqa and niqab, in all public places, schools, universities, shops, and offices nationwide.
Violators would face fines of 300 to 3,000 euros (around £260 to £2,600).
In reaction to the move by the Italian leader, Mr Farage called for a debate about all face coverings in public, saying it can't "just be about the burka".
The Reform UK leader said: "[Ms Meloni] is following many other countries. The burka ban of course now several European countries have it. Several Muslim countries also have it.
"I think we have to get our definitions of this right - if we are going to ban the burka, what other face coverings?
"This has to not just be about the burka, it has to be about face coverings in public as a whole.
"I have to say that some of the extreme-left Antifa protestors that we see, are allowed to go out, to say very, very, very unpleasant things. So let's have a debate about face coverings in public as a whole, not just about the burka."
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WATCH: Nigel Farage reveals he signed declaration to say Donald Trump should get Nobel Peace Prize eight years ago
Nigel Farage has revealed he signed a declaration to say Donald Trump was deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize eight years ago.
Discussions around the US President being hailed with the prestigious award heightened this week, after he announced a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Mr Trump has previously made repeated public statements saying he is deserving of the peace prize.
The Nobel Committee announced this morning it had been awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado.
Mr Farage said: "Eight years ago I signed a declaration in the European Parliament to say he should be put up for the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Don't doubt that he genuinely wants to act as peace broker. He is bitterly disappointed in Putin's behaviour.
"I think he assumed that Putin would, just as Hamas and Israel have done, would come, sit round the table, agree to some compromises and thus far Putin has completely refused to do so.
"I expect what you will see is American policy towards Russia getting much, much tougher over the coming weeks."
Rachel Reeves under pressure as National Lottery tax faces £8billion shortfall
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing the prospect of an £8billion shortfall in tax revenues from the National Lottery, after sales fell well below the forecasts made by new operator Allwyn.
The Lottery will generate around £84billion in sales over Allwyn’s 10-year licence to 2034, little more than half of the £152billion figure promised in its winning bid for what was billed as Britain’s most valuable public sector contract new research has shown.
The Czech-owned firm, controlled by billionaire Karel Komárek, had claimed its plans would raise £18.2billion for the Treasury, but current projections from The Telegraph indicate the true figure will be closer to £10billion.
Plaid Cymru ready to replace Labour, says leader
Plaid Cymru is ready to replace Labour at the Welsh Parliament election next year, the party’s leader will say.
In a speech at the annual party conference, Rhun ap Iorwerth will position Plaid as a government-in-waiting, with “new energy and new ideas”.
“Let’s be clear. We’re not here to act as Labour’s conscience. We are not here to repair Labour. We are here to replace them,” he is expected to say.
Labour has led Wales since the Senedd was first established as the National Assembly for Wales in 1999.
But recent polling has forecast Plaid and Reform to be the two biggest parties in Wales at the election in May.
Migrants stopped in their tracks as French police deploy pepper spray to stop them reaching small boats
French police used pepper spray to stop migrants from reaching a small boat this morning
|GB NEWS
French police have used pepper spray to stop migrants from reaching a small boat before it was set to cross to Britain this morning.
About 100 men and women gathered on Gravelines beach in northern France in a bid to cross the English Channel.
As they made their way to a dinghy in the water, some clashed with French police who used a spray to try and stop them.
At least 70 people made their way onto the boat and were seen taking off across the Channel towards Dover.
Britain needs to work with China but country poses 'whole series of security threats', says Yvette Cooper
The UK Government needs to work with China, but there are a “whole series of security threats”, the Foreign Secretary has said.
Asked whether China was a “friend or foe" Yvette Cooper told LBC: “We’ve been clear, there’s a whole series of security threats that have come from China, for example, things like transnational repression, for example, things like cyber threats and attacks and industrial espionage, and so on.
“They are also, of course, an important trading partner, and also they’re somebody that we need to work with on things like climate change.
“But where there are national security threats, we need to take them immensely seriously and respond to them, and we continue to do that.”
Shadow Chancellor says Labour cabinet ministers 'should all go'
The Shadow Chancellor has said all Labour cabinet ministers "should go" and accused the Government of making life "extremely difficult" for millions of Britons.
Speaking to GB News, Mel Stride MP said: "Frankly people are frequently asking me questions about various members of the cabinet including the Chancellor.
"My response is always the same which is that I think they should all go. I think they are really destroying our economy, they are making life extremely difficult for millions of people, they are destroying businesses, they are not stopping the small boats coming.
"One begins to wonder what this Government is for but we are going to be stuck with them I'm afraid for some time.
"We as the Conservative party have got to show that we are a serious, grown-up alternative to that."
Mr Stride also accused Sir Keir Starmer of making "all the wrong choices" in the UK.
Yvette Cooper refuses to say if Donald Trump deserves Nobel Peace Prize
The Foreign Secretary has dodged questions on whether Donald Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the Gaza ceasefire.
Speaking on LBC, Yvette Cooper was asked whether the US president deserves the honour.
She replied: “I’m strongly supporting the work that President Trump is doing.
“It’s an independent process. I’m not going to cut across that process.”
Ms Cooper also said there were discussions about the ceasefire coming in within 24 hours of the agreement by the Israeli cabinet and the return of hostages within 72 hours, but the UK Government hopes this will happen sooner.
Income tax hike 'least damaging' option for Rachel Reeves at Budget, think tank warns
Rachel Reeves has previously vowed not to raises taxes for 'working people'
|PA
Families could be hit with higher income tax bills as experts warn it is the "least damaging" way for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to plug a huge £30billion hole in the nation’s finances.
The respected National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) looked at three main tax options the Government could use to raise the cash – income tax, VAT and corporation tax.
Its analysis suggested that while none of the choices would be painless, lifting income tax rates would cause the least disruption to the economy compared with hiking VAT on everyday spending or taxing businesses more heavily.
Reform scoops 'highest ever' by-election win: 'Bye bye Tories'
Reform UK has scooped a record by-election win in North Yorkshire, taking home more than 65 per cent of votes.
Nigel Farage's party snatched victory from the Conservatives in the Redcar and Cleveland Council by-election, held in the Skelton East ward.
Reacting to the win, Reform deputy leader, Richard Tice, said: "Highest ever Reform percentage. 65.3 per cent. Bye Bye Tories."
The full results are:
- Reform UK: 65.3 per cent
- Labour: 19.2 per cent
- Conservative: 13.9 per cent
- Lib Dem: 1.5 per cent
Yvette Cooper: 'European countries will all be strongly playing part in Gaza peace process'
Yvette Cooper said European countries 'will all be strongly playing' their part in the Gaza peace process
|PA
European countries “will all be strongly playing” their part in the Gaza peace process, Yvette Cooper has said at a meeting of foreign ministers in Paris.
The Foreign Secretary has faced questions about Europe’s role in the interim governance of Gaza, as Israel and Hamas agree to a pause in the two-year war.
Hamas has also agreed to release the remaining hostages, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Donald Trump has received praise for his role in trying to broker a deal between the warring parties, which Sir Keir Starmer said “would not have happened without” the US President’s leadership.
Ms Cooper said: “I pay tribute to not just the US, but Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, who have been involved in these negotiations.
“The crucial thing now is to support the implementation of the first phase but also for all of us to come together as part of the second phase.
“European nations, the UK, other nations also from across the world, will all be strongly playing our part in supporting this peace process."