Scottish Parliament votes down Reform's proposed burqa ban

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 19:45 · Archive

Scottish Parliament defeated Reform UK's call to ban face coverings including the burqa and niqab, with MSPs branding the motion racist.

Scottish Parliament voted down Reform UK's motion to restrict full-face coverings in public places, including the burqa and niqab worn by some Muslim women. The party argued the ban would improve 'public safety, individual liberty and community cohesion'. MSPs instead backed a Government amendment stating it was 'not for Parliament to legislate for what women choose to wear', which passed by 92 to 15 votes with eight abstentions.

First Minister John Swinney and SNP Community Safety Minister Kirsten Oswald accused Reform of racism and divisiveness. Oswald said: 'Here we are yet again, Reform UK coming to this chamber and telling women what to wear.' She noted the motion referenced only the burqa and niqab, making no mention of balaclavas, increasingly worn by far-right activists at anti-migrant protests. Oswald said the motion was 'deliberately divisive, racist, Islamophobic and designed to foster hostility'.

Reform UK MSP Helen McDade, who lodged the motion, cited face covering bans across Europe including France, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Italy. She said people had seen videos of masked men in Glasgow causing 'fear and mayhem', and described feeling fearful when surrounded by people whose faces could not be seen, even without criminality involved. This was Reform's second attempt at the debate; an earlier attempt in October was cut short after MSPs voted against extending discussion.

How it is being reported

• Scottish Parliament votes against Reform push for burka ban as motion branded 'racist'The party called for the Scottish Government to look at restricting full-face coverings in public places, including the niqab and burka which are worn by some Muslim women.Daily Record · 4 Nov, 19:14
• SNP minister slams Reform over 'racist' bid to bring back burqa ban debateReform have been slammed for bringing back a 'deliberately divisive' and 'racist' bid to ban face coverings in public placesThe National · 4 Nov, 17:04

In this story: Reform UK · Scottish Parliament · SNP · Kirsten Oswald · John Swinney · Helen McDade · Scotland

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