Tory shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy has said he “hates” the niqab and burqa, comparing Muslim face coverings to a “ball and chain”.
Speaking at a fringe event during the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Mr Timothy argued that wearing the garments could have a damaging effect on wider society.
He also claimed that state-funded schools requiring girls to wear the hijab—a headscarf covering the hair, neck and ears while leaving the face visible—could be breaking equality law.
However, the West Suffolk MP stopped short of confirming whether the Conservatives would back a ban on Islamic face veils, including the niqab and burqa, as the party reviews its policies under leader Kemi Badenoch.
Mr Timothy acknowledged that restrictions on face coverings raised difficult questions, saying Britain was an open society in which people should generally be free to make their own choices.
But during a conversation with former Conservative Cabinet minister Michael Gove at an event hosted by The Spectator, he said: “I hate the niqab and burqa.
“I’ve said before that when I see a woman wearing one in public, I see a human being with a ball and chain. It is a deliberate choice to separate women from society.”
He added that the impact extended beyond the individual wearing the garment, saying face coverings were “harmful to all of us” because they could undermine social trust.
Tory shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy said he “hates” the niqab and burqa, likening Muslim face veils to a “ball and chain”.
At a Conservative conference fringe event in Birmingham, Mr Timothy described the garments as damaging to wider society.
Mr Timothy said the issue was especially challenging in communities where face coverings were common, arguing that residents could feel disconnected from people who appeared to be deliberately distancing themselves.
He described what he called a “deliberate manifestation of difference” and a refusal to engage with others as deeply damaging to social cohesion.
The MP said the Conservatives were still developing their position and that he could not pre-empt the outcome of the party’s policy work.
He noted, however, that several European countries have introduced bans on the burqa in public places.
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Reports have previously suggested that Mr Timothy and shadow home secretary Chris Philp are examining the possible case for a burqa ban as part of a wider review into Islamism.
Mr Timothy, who formerly served as Theresa May’s co-chief of staff in Downing Street, also raised concerns about the wearing of the hijab in schools, particularly among younger primary pupils.
He referred to controversy surrounding Barnet Hill Academy, a former independent Islamic faith school in north London, where female pupils have been required to wear white hijabs from Year 3.
The school’s published uniform policy says the hijab is “not a requirement for any non-Muslim students attending the school”.
Despite that, Mr Timothy argued that the policy could still amount to a “breach of equality law” and said it “shouldn’t be allowed” if it discriminated against pupils who did not wish to wear the headscarf.
A spokesman for Labour-run Barnet Council previously said: “As part of the due diligence process, Barnet Council discussed the uniform requirements with the school.
‘Barnet Hill Academy was clear that this does not apply to non-Muslim pupils, and this has been made clear in its online uniform policy.
‘The uniform policy is in line with other faith schools in Barnet that set uniform requirements informed by religious practice.
‘The school is also clear that it does not insist Muslim girls wear the hijab apart from during acts of worship.’
The school’s website adds: ‘Barnet Hill Academy’s uniform and Islamic dress code are closely aligned with our school ethos which aims at directing our children towards Islamic values and norms.
‘As such, we apply the terms uniform and Islamic dress interchangeably as our students, particularly KS2, are engaged in acts of worship, congregational prayer, recitation of the Quran and many other acts which fall within the bounds of Islam, Islamic worship and rituals.
‘The school recognises that our pupils and families come from different backgrounds and may hold different beliefs.
‘Our aim is to maintain the distinctive Islamic character of Barnet Hill Academy while ensuring that all pupils feel valued, respected and included.’
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