Kemi Badenoch has stated that she will not speak to women wearing burqas during her constituency surgeries, and argued that employers should have the right to ban staff from wearing face coverings. The Conservative leader made the comments in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, following a debate triggered by Reform MP Sarah Pochin, who pressed Prime Minister Keir Starmer on whether he would follow France in banning the burqa.
Badenoch said there were more insidious issues than the burqa, such as sharia courts and first-cousin marriage, and that women should be able to wear what they like. However, she insisted that anyone attending her surgery must remove face coverings, whether a burqa or a balaclava. She also believes employers should be able to decide what their staff wear without being overridden.
The remarks drew criticism from Labour MP Afzal Khan, vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims, who accused Badenoch of trying to outflank Reform UK on immigration and culture wars, risking alienating moderate voters and eroding trust in politics. He called for serious leadership rather than stunts to appease the far right.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp confirmed he has spoken to women in burqas in the past. Meanwhile, Reform UK's decision to raise the issue in parliament led to the resignation of party chair Zia Yusuf, who later returned, citing exhaustion from racist abuse. Yusuf said he might vote for a burqa ban but noted more pressing issues. Deputy leader Richard Tice defended the debate, arguing the issue cannot be forced underground.
