No end in sight to Boris burka row
Some decent politicians will make mistakes during their careers and say sorry for it, unfortunately Boris Johnson is not the apologising type. Indeed, he has gone out of his way to act as a Tory maverick, like his friend in America, Donald Trump.
After all his previous insults, racial jibes and failure in office, I don’t think he should continue as an MP at the taxpayers’ expense.
Sadly PM Theresa May is a coward who does not have the guts to come down hard on her MPs and ministers who underachieve in public office and fail to toe the party line.
Her weakness has created civil war within Tory ranks and we have a Government not fit for purpose.
Reg Barrett, Southminster, Essex
Further to the furore concerning Boris Johnson, perhaps we should remember we are a country of free speech and that wars have been fought to preserve this right. The writer Evelyn Beatrice Hall once wrote: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to my death your right to say it.” Is it possible that in this age of political correctness we are all becoming too sensitive? Perhaps we should all accept that there are many opinions and each person is entitled to his, or hers, without creating offence.
Colin Bower, Nottingham
Boris Johnson is right to oppose moves to ban the wearing of veils in public places. Freedom of choice is surely essential – for the state to tell women what not to wear is equally as indefensible as their religious leaders insisting faces should be covered by items of clothing.
However, it’s Johnson’s choice of language that is so offensive and dangerous inasmuch as racists have seized upon the words of a prominent politician to abuse veiled Muslims.
Paul Methven Winscombe, Somerset
I am not a big fan of Boris’s but I do defend his right to speak freely, something that is sadly disappearing in this country. At worst his remarks were tactless.
I, and many more like me, are getting pretty tired of the race card being bandied about as soon as a perceived hurt has been felt.
People should stop making issues into something they’re not.
Elaine Patrick, Ruthin, Denbighshire
Why are we surprised at dozy Boris Johnson likening Muslim women to bank robbers and letter boxes? After all, this is the same man who called black children “piccaninnies”. Johnson is nothing more than an arrogant bigot and there should be no place in Parliament for him.
Len Goodwin, Doncaster
I would like to live in a fair and inclusive society in which no one suffers discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, social class etc. I do not feel that either the wearing of the burka, nor the employment of oafs such as Boris Johnson as senior politicians, are conducive to these ends and I would, ideally, like to see the termination of both practices.
D Briottet, North West London
I do feel that those countries that have banned or are considering banning the wearing of the burka in public places have a valid point of view.