A new Reform MP has called for Britain to follow other European countries in banning the burqa. Sarah Pochin posed the question to Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs and sparked a furious reaction from other MPs at the House of Commons.

The MP for Runcorn and Helsby said: “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?” She was met with jeers from fellow MPs while the Prime Minister looked visibly taken aback.

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Replying to Ms Pochin, the Prime Minister said: “Can I welcome her to her place, but I’m not going to follow her down that line.

“But now she is here and safely in her place, perhaps she could tell her new party leader that his latest plan to bet £80 billion of unfunded tax cuts, with no idea how he’s going to pay for it, is Liz Truss all over again.

“Although considering I think she was a Conservative member when Liz Truss was leader, she probably won’t.”

Tory James Cleverly has since hit out at Sir Keir Starmer’s reply to the question. He said on X: “Unacceptable behaviour from Keir Starmer at PMQs.

“After failing to answer any of Kemi’s questions he basically said to Sarah Pochin that he didn’t like her question, so ‘wasn’t going to engage with it’. Refusing to answer MP’s questions isn’t an option as a government minister.”

Meanwhile, Dan Tomlinson, the Labour MP for Chipping Barnet, said he was “surprised” by Ms Pochin’s question. He told GB News that “no one raised that issue with me” when he visited her constituency.

He said: “I went up to Runcorn to try and help Labour secure a win there. No one raised that issue with me when I spent the day up there.

“I was personally surprised to see her raise that as an issue. My view is that we shouldn’t be telling people how to dress.”

Several countries have implemented bans on burqas and other full-face coverings in public spaces. Some of these include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland in Europe, as well as certain regions in China and several African nations.