On the Record: Robert Jenrick

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Robert Jenrick

Role at the time: Conservative MP for Newark and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
Role now: Reform UK MP for Newark and the party’s economics spokesperson

“I probably would ban the burqa.”

What was said

On 21 October 2025, Robert Jenrick was asked during the Ring Rob phone-in on Talk whether he would ban the burqa. He gave the answer quoted above. He said there was a strong argument for a ban and presented the wearing of the burqa, alongside sharia courts, as a challenge to basic national values.

Context and response

Jenrick was discussing proposals in Italy to restrict face-covering religious dress. He was then a Conservative shadow cabinet minister. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch had opposed a nationwide ban, arguing that it would not resolve cultural separation, although she supported employers setting rules on face coverings at work.

Downing Street rejected a general ban and said freedom of religion includes religious attire except where limited restrictions are prescribed by law. Labour MP Sam Rushworth described Jenrick’s position as anti-British. Green Party co-deputy leader Mothin Ali said clothing choices should be made by women themselves.

Jenrick joined Reform UK on 15 January 2026. In a later Talk interview published on 9 September 2026, he described the burqa as “anti-British”. No retraction of the proposed ban was identified.

Further remarks: “Islamification” and proposed exclusions

“The Islamification of this country is one, perhaps the greatest threat to our way of life right now.”

On 6 October 2026, during a live interview on Dan Wootton Outspoken, Jenrick agreed when asked about Donald Trump’s statement that Islam was seeking to take over France. Jenrick initially framed his concern as mass migration, multiculturalism and tolerance of “radical Islam”. He then called for the removal of every person he described as an illegal immigrant and for an end to wearing the burqa, sharia courts and hate preachers.

Later in the same exchange, Jenrick said Reform UK’s policies included banning the burqa and sharia courts, deporting hate preachers and every person it classifies as an illegal migrant, and “stopping issuing visas to countries like Pakistan”. He then made the statement quoted above. The record preserves the distinction between his references to “radical Islam” and his later, unqualified use of “Islamification”.

Complaints and Jenrick’s response

The remarks were reported to the Metropolitan Police and referred to Prevent. The available sources describe complaints asking those bodies to assess the remarks; they do not establish that an offence or extremist designation has been found.

On 9 October, Jenrick defended the remarks and said he would continue to oppose an Islamophobia definition that he believed would chill free speech. Reform UK’s own account framed his comments as criticism of Islamism and quoted his statement that “radical Islam” must be fought. The Guardian separately reported that Jenrick doubled down, citing sharia law, face coverings and churches becoming mosques.

Evidence trail

Evidence status

Attributable and independently preserved. The original broadcaster’s video preserves the 2025 statement. The 6 October 2026 programme page, recording and timestamped transcript preserve the later exchange; Reform UK and contemporaneous reporting reproduce the key wording and Jenrick’s response.

Legal status

This record concerns political speech and proposed restrictions on religious clothing, religious institutions, migration and visas. It does not report enacted legislation, a criminal charge, conviction, administrative finding or finding of extremist status against Jenrick. The police complaint and Prevent referral are requests for assessment, not findings of wrongdoing. Inclusion here is not an allegation of illegality.

Last reviewed: 14 October 2026

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