Cabinet Minister Jack Straw has said he would prefer Muslim women not to wear veils at all. The Commons leader said he did not want to be "prescriptive" but he believed that covering people's faces could make community relations more difficult. Mr Straw has said he asks Muslim women at his Blackburn constituency surgeries if they would mind removing veils. Some Muslim women called his remarks insulting, but other Muslims said they understood his concerns.
Mr Straw is Labour MP for Blackburn, where about 30% of residents are Muslim. He sparked controversy when he told his local paper he asked female constituents visiting his surgery to uncover their faces - something they had all so far agreed to do. Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme if he would rather the veils be discarded completely, Mr Straw replied: "Yes. It needs to be made clear I am not talking about being prescriptive but with all the caveats, yes, I would rather."
Wait 'til they remember he's a jooo... |