A ban on the burka is “not our policy as a party”, the Conservative shadow chancellor has told Sky News, despite Robert Jenrick saying yesterday that it should be banned.
Sir Mel Stride suggested that there are circumstances where a ban on full face coverings as a whole would be permissible, and denied that calling specifically for a ban on the burka is “anti-British”, defending Mr Jenrick’s comments.
The shadow chancellor is the latest to weigh in on the row after Mr Jenrick said on Tuesday that he would “probably ban the burka” – an Islamic veil that covers the whole body and face, often leaving just a mesh screen to see through.
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Asked about his colleague’s comments, Sir Mel told Sky’s Kamali Melbourne: “It’s not our policy as a party to ban the burka.
“But I do recognise, and Kemi [Badenoch] recognises also, that there are circumstances in which it is perfectly reasonable to require somebody, for example, to not be covering their entire face.”
He said the workplace is a key example of where a ban on any type of face covering would be permissible in his view, and said that during meetings with MPs, members of the public “should be asked to identify who they are”.
It comes after Mr Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, told Talk that he was in favour of a ban.
“I think there’s definitely a strong argument for it. There are basic values in this country, and we should stand up and defend them,” he said.
“And where you’re seeing them fraying at the edges, or frankly being completely destroyed – whether it’s sharia courts, or the wearing of the burka – these are issues we’re going to have to confront if we’re going to build the kind of society we want to hand on to our kids and grandkids.”
Melbourne asked Sir Mel about Tory party chair Kevin Hollinrake’s comment that a ban on the burka is not the party’s policy “yet”, and that he would support it, but he dodged the question, saying: “I think everyone’s expressing a personal view, and that’s fine.”
The shadow chancellor also defended Mr Jenrick, rejecting criticism from some that his comments were “anti-British”.
“I don’t think he’s being anti-British at all,” Sir Mel said.
“I think he’s concerned about integration and that as a culture, British culture, that we get on well together across our various communities. And I think that’s a very British thing to want to see happen.”
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‘My instincts are not to ban things’
There appears to be yet further disagreement in Mrs Badenoch’s top team about a ban on the burka, with the shadow communities secretary expressing an opposition to it this morning.
Sir James Cleverly told Talk: “I am a freedom-loving conservative. My instincts are not to ban things. And also what I don’t want to do is break our longstanding tradition of freedom of religion.”
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The former home secretary argued that the “broader point” Mr Jenrick was making is that he wants to ensure “everybody plays by the same rules”, and so “when people talk about banning the burka, I think they’re using that as a shorthand for having people subscribe to the rules, and laws, and norms of the UK”.
But senior Labour MP Diane Abbott was unimpressed by the whole row, writing on X: “The long-established position is that women should decide what they wear. No-one else.”
Of the shadow justice secretary, she added: “Perhaps some of Robert Jenrick’s colleagues should drag him into the 20th century. Any further might be too much to ask.”
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‘Burka probably anti-British’
The debate over banning the burka, which has been implemented in some European countries, was triggered when Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin asked Sir Keir Starmer to implement one in June.
It led to a row with the party’s now head of policy, Zia Yusuf, who described the question as “dumb”. He resigned and then rejoined the leadership team within a matter of days.
Nigel Farage was asked about his position days later, and he said that for him, it is a question of “priorities”.
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“I don’t like to see the burka,” the Reform UK leader said.
“It probably is anti-British in the sense that […] I don’t know if they’re being forced to cover up. That is not a good and positive thing.
“But is it absolutely front and centre of what we’re going to campaign for? Not given the other major crises we face.”
But he went on to say that there is a “broader debate” to be had about face coverings, questioning whether protesters should be allowed to wear them.
Sky News has contacted the Conservative Party for clarification on what their official position is.
