Burqa Ban’s proposal returns to the spotlight of British politics following a new push by British MP Sarah Pochin.
The appeal by British lawmakers to ban the burqa has rekindled public debate over the wearing of Islamic face veils in public places.
The most hidden burkas hide all Islamic veils, cover the face and body, leaving only a mesh screen, usually for the wearer to see through.
The priority rejected the proposal, saying, “I’m not going to chase her down that line.”
Pochin’s proposal revealed the internal divisions within the reforms and opened the locks for a wider political commentary.
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He resigned Thursday, citing continuing his role as no longer a “good use of my time.”
Tice called for “national debate” and questioned whether women in burqa were really free to choose.
“If you care about freedom, you care about women who are forced to wear burkas. It’s time to ban burkas,” the group said.
Zia Yusuf is sitting behind Sarapochin, speaking at the Reform UK press conference held in London on May 27, 2025. Dunkitwood/Getty Images
But not all reactions were consistent with this view as liberal Democrats and Labour lawmakers pushed back.
Tap added that if a woman is forced to wear clothes, “it’s likely to be part of the bigger issue within that relationship.”
He said the government is working to strengthen laws addressing violence against women and girls, including forced control, and to strengthen laws that are as serious as physical abuse.
“Instead, we will continue to focus on what is important for all Britons: the cost of a living crisis, tensions towards the NHS, unity, dignity and the need for real solutions,” he said.
Repeated discussions in the UK
This is not the first time the UK has worked to regulate or prohibit Islam face veils such as burkas and nikabs.
Although no national ban has been enacted, this topic has been regularly emerging over the past 20 years.
The UK has repeatedly argued about banning veils of Islamic faces like burqas and niqab, but the national law has not been passed.
This issue attracted attention in 2006. The then-external secretary, Jack Straw, expressed discomfort at the veil on his face, sparking public debate and controversy.
Locals protested on August 9, 2018, outside the UK’s Hillingdon Conservative Association Bureau following comments by former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson against Muslim women wearing burkas. Christopher Farlong/Getty Images
His comments were widely criticized as Islamophobia, but he defended them as a criticism of the oppressive dress code.
Prohibited across the continent
Several European countries have already implemented full or partial bans on face-covered clothing such as burqas, often citing national security, social cohesion and secularism.
France led the way in 2011 with national public bans.
In Germany, some states prohibit face veils in schools and public spaces, but public wear is not banned nationwide.
In 2021, the EU’s highest court ruled over two German Muslim women who were suspended from work for wearing hijabs at work.
However, the government argues that they are essential to promote open communication and protecting public order.
Groups containing key law and community figures will present their recommendations by August 2025.
PA Media contributed to this report.
