Senedd members will debate a motion on Wednesday that says "full-face coverings are against British values". The motion, put forward by Reform UK, is designated a "short debate", with thirty minutes allocated to the topic.
The motion was proposed by Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr MS Jason O'Connell and is supported by Andrew Griffin, who represents Gwynedd Maldwyn, and Art Wright, who represents Casnewydd Islwyn. Both are fellow Reform UK Senedd members.
Party leader's stance on face coverings
Banning face coverings is a policy of the party at a UK level. Party leader Nigel Farage wrote in a newspaper piece last month that facial coverings were "not the British way" and undermined the trust needed for a "free and open society".
Arguing for a wider ban, he wrote: "Around city centres, balaclava-clad youths tear around neighbourhoods on e-bikes and scooters, terrorising residents, making them feel unsafe in their own communities.
"We've somehow accepted that seeing masked people in the streets is just part of modern Britain. It shouldn't be.
"Which is why Reform UK is calling for a ban on all full-face coverings in public spaces. No ifs, no buts. And yes, that includes religious ones too.
"This is not a matter of targeting one group. It's about saying that in a civilised society, people should be identifiable in public."
Government response and existing law
The comments led Home Office minister Sarah Jones to say that while police had powers over coverings at protests, it was "absolutely fine" to wear face coverings for religious reasons.
"When people are going about their daily business, it is absolutely fine to wear them for religious reasons, and that will continue," she said.
The UK Labour government brought in a law that gave police powers to create mask-free zones at protests, backed by fines of up to £1,000 or one month's imprisonment or both. That applies only to people trying to conceal their identity rather than those covering their face for reasons of religion, health, or work.
The item is last on the Senedd agenda, with the session starting at 1.30pm.
