0:00
Kevin says, should there at least be a debate around banning the burka, Sarah Pochin
0:05
Absolutely, there should, Kevin. And clearly, this was my first question to the Prime Minister
0:11
which, of course, he didn't answer because he doesn't seem to be able to answer any questions. Why was it your first question
0:16
Because I'm thinking there were so many other things you could have asked. Why did you choose that
0:20
Because I wanted to, well, first of all, massive issue in the by-election with asylum seekers, immigration and threat to women's safety
0:28
the cultural integration in the society. So there's that whole issue. But also I wanted to raise the point of public safety
0:36
The fact is, is that our police have a tough job as it is, or face coverings
0:41
I've actually widened and always meant it to be a question about face coverings
0:45
except when you're making a point in Parliament and you've got a few minutes to do it
0:50
then ban the burqa was, you know, everyone remembers those words. But the point is, face coverings in this country should be banned
0:56
on the grounds of public safety and on the grounds of um in my view suppression of women
1:02
this is not our culture if a woman chooses to do it i don buy that argument what woman Some women do As Ali will I sure confirm Can I just say please my point of view which is what you asking
1:13
what woman wants to cover themselves in a black cloth, especially it's 35 degrees yesterday in London
1:19
This is not our culture. If you want to go around in a black cloth
1:22
then go back to the country where that is their culture. But there are many British-born Muslims who wear the face cover
1:31
I know. I went campaigning in Bolton in 2017, and I went up and down streets
1:36
and women would not speak to me, are frightened to speak to me. We've only got three minutes left on this. Ali
1:41
Well, first of all, I think you're being dishonest. I think when you said that you intended for it to be all face-covering
1:46
you didn't. You went up in your very first speech, didn't talk about the NHS, didn't talk about the economy
1:51
didn't talk about housing, didn't talk about the plethora of issues that seriously affect your constituents
1:55
I talked about one of the biggest issues in my... No, for my constituents, this is one of the biggest issues
2:00
How many members of your constituency were at the Burka? How many people in your constituency were at the Burka
2:07
How many people in your constituency were at the Burka? I telling to you that one of the biggest issues raised on me on the doorstep was the cultural integration of foreigners in places like Runcorn Runcorn and Halesby And that was a big issue for my constituents which is why I raised it
2:22
Yes, but the question is how many... You raised the burqa. You then said that I wanted to be a broader issue about face covering
2:29
That's not what you said. Yeah, I've said that ever since. You knew what you were doing. The audience listening knows what you were doing
2:34
I know what you were doing. you were feeding and pandering to an increasingly divisive conversation
2:41
because you knew it would play well for your political base. We need to raise the debate. The reality is, if you're talking about crime in the bunker
2:48
let's look at what the National Crime Agency say, what the police say
2:51
what continuous organisations who study this say, and not one of them says this is a significant problem
2:57
that needs to be fixed. I want to bring Steve in. Steve, if I may, just one other thing
3:01
We've literally got two minutes left, Ali. Steve, you used to represent, a constituency with a very high Muslim population
3:07
Yeah, about 20% of the constituency, British Muslims, about a third would vote Conservative
3:11
So I make three points. First, everyone without exception should be prepared to show their face when it is relevant for
3:17
security. And they do. And they do, without exception Second people confuse the burqa niqab and the hijab And forgive me I think Sarah saying burqa when she means niqab and she might want to ban the niqab Some people want to ban
3:29
the hijab. But what I'd say is the hijab is scarcely any different to what a nun would wear
3:34
and nobody's talking about banning that. So I think the crucial point here is people should be
3:39
prepared to show their face. But the third point I'd make, which is to me really the bottom line
3:43
in a free society, politicians ought not to be in the business of telling women to wear clothes
3:48
which are more or less demure by their own judgment. Some women are choosing to wear the hijab or indeed the niqab
3:55
for religious reasons because they don't wish to inspire men to temptation
3:59
And I don't want to be there, but others do, and I think they should be free to take those views
4:05
But as long as they're prepared to show their face when it's relevant for security reasons. Jim
4:09
I think the fact that Sarah, in trying to justify herself, has used the term foreigners and go back to the country you came from
4:16
I think tells us that she's pursuing a divisive agenda designed to pick on a minority
4:22
and I don't think that's really where we need to go if we're trying to encourage integration
4:26
Final word from you. Standing up for British values and what the people of this country want to claim back
4:31
and that's our culture
