New Reform UK MP Stuns The Commons With Outrageous Request In PMQs

A Reform UK MP has stunned the Commons by asking if the government will ban the burqa.

Sarah Pochin, who won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election last month, suggested to Keir Starmer that the UK should forbid people from wearing the Muslim garment which covers a woman’s whole body, aside from the eyes.

She raised the issue at prime minister’s questions (PMQs), despite a burqa ban not being her own party’s policy.

Pochin said: “Given the prime minister’s desire to strengthen strategic alignment with our European neighbours, will he – in the interest of public safety – follow the lead of France, Denmark, Belgium and others, and ban the burqa”

That question sparked outrage among MPs – and Keir Starmer paused before replying.

He said: “Can I welcome her to her place, but I’m not going to follow her down that line.”

A Reform UK spokesman told HuffPost UK that banning the burqa was “not party policy, but it needs a national debate, which is what the House is for”.

Pochin won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes – overturning Labour’s 14,700 majority – in a huge victory for Reform UK last month.

Today was the first time she has asked a question at PMQs since being elected.

Rather than answer her request, Starmer instead tried to corner the MP over party leader Nigel Farage’s manifesto.

He said: “But now that she is here, perhaps she could tell her new party leader that his latest plan to bet £80bn of unfunded tax cuts, has no idea how he’s going to pay for it, is Liz Truss all over again?

“Although, considering she was a Conservative member when Liz Truss was leader, she probably won’t.”

In a short clip posted on social media before PMQs, Pochin suggested it was actually a question which came from the constituents.

She said on X: “Thank you to everyone who sent in questions for the prime minister. I’ve chosen one and will be asking it just after 12 noon today in the House of Commons.”