Britain must “stand up for our values” and ban the burqa, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has demanded, becoming the first shadow cabinet minister to openly back such a prohibition.
Jenrick broke ranks to echo calls from Conservative backbenchers and Reform MPs for legislation outlawing face coverings, arguing it’s essential for building “the kind of society we want to hand onto our kids and grandkids.”
He was quickly joined by Conservative Chairman Kevin Hollinrake, who said “we need to take a tougher line with these people who want to live separate from the rest of society.”
“Basic Values We Should Defend”
Speaking to Talk TV, Jenrick made clear he personally supports banning the full-face Islamic veil worn by some Muslim women.
“I probably would ban the burqa,” he stated. “There are basic values in this country and we should stand up and defend them.”
He continued: “And where you see them fraying at the edges or frankly being completely destroyed – whether it’s sharia courts or wearing the burqa – these are issues we’re going to have to confront if we want to build the kind society that we want to hand onto our kids and grandkids.
By linking burqas to sharia courts, Jenrick positioned the debate within broader Conservative concerns about integration and parallel legal systems developing within Britain.
Italy Pushes Similar Ban
The shadow minister’s intervention comes as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party pushes legislation to ban burqas and niqabs across all public spaces.
The proposed Bill would prohibit full-face veils in cafes, shops, schools and anywhere else members of the public gather.
Sara Kelany, the Brothers of Italy party’s immigration spokesperson, explained the legislation aims to combat what she termed “Islamic separatism.
“It is a bill that will essentially deal with regulating the funding of mosques, and with preventing and banning the use of the full-face veil,” Kelany said.
“It also emphasises the legislation against forced marriages. In Italy, we apply our laws which are based on a specific set of values.”
Hollinrake: “Tougher Line” Needed
Conservative Chairman Kevin Hollinrake enthusiastically backed Jenrick’s position, framing the debate around social cohesion.
“We need to take a tougher line with these people who want to live separate from the rest of society,” he declared.
His use of “these people” to describe burqa-wearers will likely draw criticism for othering Muslim women who choose to cover their faces.
Labour MP: “Anti-British”
Jenrick’s comments immediately sparked fury amongst Labour MPs who accused him of attacking fundamental British values.
Sam Rushworth responded: “That’s so anti-British. It goes against what our nation stands for.”
The Labour backbencher’s counter-argument positions tolerance and freedom of religious expression as core British values that a ban would undermine.
European Precedent
A string of European countries have already implemented bans on burqas and other full-face veils, citing concerns about security and integration.
France blazed the trail as the first European nation to prohibit face-covering veils in public, passing legislation in April 2011.
Belgium followed rapidly, enforcing a similar ban by July 2011, demonstrating quick adoption across the continent.
Austria joined them in October 2017, whilst Denmark passed its own prohibition in 2018, making face-covering garments illegal throughout public spaces.
Most recently, Switzerland voted to ban full facial coverings, including burqas, in a 2021 referendum decided by the Swiss public.
Braverman: “Why Aren’t We?”
Shadow Home Secretary Suella Braverman amplified the call, demanding Britain follow Italy’s lead.
“If Italy is doing this, why aren’t we?” she asked. “We need to ban the burqa now.”
Braverman’s intervention suggests the Conservative leadership may be coalescing around this position as party policy.
Security Versus Freedom Debate
Proponents of burqa bans typically cite two main justifications: security concerns about identifying individuals in public spaces, and integration worries about visible separation from mainstream society.
Critics counter that such bans represent state overreach into personal religious choices and disproportionately target Muslim women, potentially driving them from public life entirely.
The security argument gained traction after terrorist attacks where perpetrators used face coverings to evade identification.
However, opponents note that burqa-wearing women represent a tiny fraction of Britain’s Muslim population and that legitimate security needs can be addressed through targeted measures rather than blanket bans.
Integration Arguments
Jenrick and Hollinrake’s emphasis on integration taps into longstanding Conservative concerns about multiculturalism creating parallel communities rather than a cohesive society.
They argue that face coverings create barriers to normal social interaction and signal unwillingness to participate fully in British life.
Muslim groups counter that women who wear burqas or niqabs do so as a religious choice and that banning them represents the state dictating how Muslims can practice their faith.
Feminist Dimensions
Some burqa ban supporters frame prohibition as protecting women’s rights, arguing that many who wear full-face veils do so under male coercion rather than free choice.
Others point out that Western feminists presuming to “liberate” Muslim women from their chosen religious garments itself represents a form of condescension.
Muslim women who wear burqas often describe it as empowering, allowing them to be judged on intellect and character rather than appearance.
Political Calculation
For Conservatives languishing in opposition, championing a burqa ban offers several political advantages.
It differentiates them from Labour on immigration and integration issues whilst potentially appealing to voters concerned about cultural change.
The policy also helps compete with Reform UK, which has made similar demands as part of its platform.
However, it risks alienating moderate voters and Britain’s Muslim community, potentially driving them further towards Labour.
What This Means Going Forward
With two senior shadow cabinet ministers now openly backing prohibition, burqa bans could feature in the next Conservative manifesto.
Whether the policy gains broader support within the party or remains a factional position championed by the right will determine its political viability.
For Britain’s Muslim community, particularly the small minority of women who wear burqas, the debate represents an existential threat to their ability to participate in public life whilst maintaining their religious practices.
As European countries increasingly restrict Islamic dress, Britain faces a choice about what kind of society it wants to be: one that prohibits religious garments in the name of integration, or one that tolerates diverse expressions of faith even when uncomfortable for the majority.
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge & Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge — photo by Frankie Fouganthin, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
