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Reform’s Sarah Pochin asks Keir Starmer if he’ll ban the burqa

Published 12:48 4 Jun 2025 BST

Updated 13:16 4 Jun 2025 BST

Charlie Herbert
Reform’s Sarah Pochin asks Keir Starmer if he’ll ban the burqa

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She claimed it is in the 'interests of public safety'

Sarah Pochin used a question at PMQs to ask Keir Starmer if his government would be banning the burqa.

Standing up in the House of Commons, Reform's newest MP argued a ban on the burqa would be "in the interest of public safety."

She asked: "Given the prime minister's desire to strengthen strategic alignment with our European neighbours, will he in the interests of public safety, follow the lead of France, Denmark, Belgium and others and ban the burqa?"

The question prompted some gasps from within the House of Commons, with Starmer responding: "I'm not going to follow her down that line."

He went on to tell the Runcorn and Helsby MP that her party's recently announced spending plans were "Liz Truss all over again," before pointing out that Pochin was a Tory MP when Truss became prime minister.

The burqa is a garment worn by some Muslim women which fully covers the body and face. Over the last 15 years, a number of European countries have introduced bans on full-face veils such as the burqa, on the grounds of public safety and social integration.

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Reform's Sarah Pochin asks Keir Starmer if he'll ban the burqa