Boris Johnson Will Be Taking Burka Comment Criticism In His Stride

11 August 2018, 13:15

Jacob Rees-Mogg believes Boris Johnson will be taking criticism of his burka comments "in his stride".

Conservative backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg said Boris Johnson will be taking criticisms of his burka remarks "in his stride".

The former Foreign Secretary, who has been on holiday since writing a newspaper column in which he said it was "ridiculous" that people chose to wear the burka, has yet to give a public response to the criticisms.

Mr Rees-Mogg said: "I guess he's taking all this in his stride.

"It's the way of the political life nowadays that people are always gaff-hunting and try and make great stories out of relatively minor comments."

The former Foreign Secretary likened people who wear burkas as "letter boxes" or "bank robbers" in a newspaper column earlier in the week.

Mr Johnson said that he was against bans on face-covering veils in public places, but added that it was "ridiculous" that people chose to wear them.

The Conservative Muslim Forum founder Lord Sheikh called for Mr Johnson to have the whip removed, saying that an apology would not be enough.