Conservative shadow justice minister says he 'hates' niqab and burqa, doubts party ban

At a fringe session of the Conservative conference in Birmingham, Tory shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy declared his hatred for the niqab and burqa, describing them as a "ball and chain" that isolates women from society. He argued that such face coverings harm not only the wearer but also broader social trust, citing examples of bans in several European countries. Timothy also warned that state-funded schools mandating hijabs breach equality legislation, pointing to a controversy at Barnet Hill Academy over primary-age girls wearing white hijabs. Acknowledging the difficulty of regulating personal choice in an open society, he said the party's position on a possible ban remains undecided while a policy review led by Kemi Badenoch proceeds, with shadow home secretary Chris Philp also examining the issue.