𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin has given her full backing to Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni after the hardline premier unveiled a major reform. Ms Meloni has tabled a bill that would ban the burka and niqab in public places in Italy, and would impose a fine of up to £2,600 for anyone flouting the law.

The hardline Brothers of Italy Party said the bill would make a stand against “Islamic separatism” aimed at combating “religious radicalisation and religiously motivated hatred”. Ms Pochin has now told the Express she wholeheartedly supports Ms Meloni’s new ban as she pushes to secure one in Britain. The Runcorn and Helsby MP said: “I fully support Georgia Meloni’s call for a ban on the burka and niqab in public spaces.”

“Italy is following the lead of many other countries who put the security of their citizens first.

“I asked Keir Starmer to do the same in the interests of public safety. Starmer refused to answer my question.”

Ms Pochin rocked British politics in June after using her first-ever PMQs question to demand a ban, leaving Sir Keir stunned.

Ms Pochin broke a longstanding political taboo to ask whether the PM would ban the Islamic face and head covering “in the interests of public safety, follow the lead of France, Denmark, Belgium and others”.

While the demand prompted outrage from Left-wing opponents, a major poll in July found that half of Britons believe Islam is not compatible with British values, and that Muslim women are pressured into wearing the religious garb.

The bombshell revelations came from a new YouGov survey, which also found that 41% of voters believe Muslim immigrants have a negative impact on the country, compared to between seven and 15% for immigrants of other religions.

Ms Pochin said the poll’s findings were “shocking, but sadly not surprising”.

“I have raised in Parliament the issue of female face coverings, which many view as a form of cultural suppression,” she said.

“Alongside this, the growing incompatibility between certain Islamic practices and Britain’s Christian-based freedoms should concern us all.”

The Bill being introduced in Italy would also create new criminal sanctions for virginity testing, and a further crackdown on forced marriages.

It would also bring in revolutionary new transparency rules on the funding of Islamic religious organisations.

The bill is expected to pass given the Brothers of Italy party’s sizeable parliamentary majority.

France has had a burka ban since 2011. Since then, more than 20 other countries have introduced varying forms of restrictions.