A poll by YouGov has found more than half of the British public would support banning people from wearing a burka. 57% of those surveyed said they would support a ban on wearing the burka in the UK. Just 25% are against outlawing it.
The debate around the Islamic dress has been ignited after a photo emerged of a woman on a Nice beach was forced to remove her burkini, surrounded by armed French police. This led the French government to issue a ban on burkinis in over 30 coastal towns, sparking international outrage.
The YouGov survey found that older people are more likely to support a ban, with 78% aged 65 years or older backing the ban, compared to 34% of 18 to 24-year-olds. Working class people are also more likely to support the ban than middle-class people, with 61% compared to 54%. Women surveyed were almost equal in supporting a ban as men are, with 56% of females backing it compared to 58% of males.
The YouGov survey tracked the opinion along party lines. The survey found that a burka ban is supported by 84% of Ukip voters and 66% of Conservatives. A total of 48% of Labour voters said they would support a ban, with 42% of Liberal Democrats backing the proposal. Yet just 37% of Labour voters and 30% of Lib Dem supporters said they would oppose the ban.
The results reveal there are only two demographics more likely to oppose a ban than support it. These are 18 to 24-year-olds and Remain voters. The survey also found that British people are also in favour of banning burkinis, although the sentiment is less strong than for burkas. YouGov found 46% of people would support a burkini ban and 30% would oppose one.
For the survey, YouGov asked 1,668 British adults.
