Jordan Bardella, president of France’s National Rally party, claimed in an interview during the Reform UK conference that the Islamic veil has become an "instrument of coercion" in some neighbourhoods, where women and girls “are forced to wear a veil just to walk freely in public spaces.”

He claimed that years of high immigration and generous welfare policies have turned France’s social system into a “magnet,” contributing to the rise of communitarianism and the spread of "Islamist ideology". Bardella cited official figures claiming France grants around 500,000 legal residence permits annually and hosts an estimated 900,000 undocumented migrants.

Bardella stated that "Islamist ideology" must not be confused with “French people of the Muslim faith who respect our laws and values,” adding that many Muslims are themselves concerned about the rise of fundamentalism.

National Rally supports extending France’s existing ban on religious head coverings in schools to all public buildings, including town halls, universities and government service centres, in defence of the country’s secular principles.

In the UK, Reform’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf has called for a nationwide ban on all face coverings, including the burka, arguing it would improve integration and public safety.

Bardella also said that if Marine Le Pen wins the 2027 presidential election, France will tighten border controls and overhaul immigration laws, reducing the number of migrants reaching Calais and, in his view, eliminating the need for Britain to deploy the Royal Navy in the Channel.

He said a proposed immigration referendum would establish the primacy of French law over European and international rulings, enabling France to implement stronger deterrent measures. “If France protects its borders, the Calais issue no longer exists,” Bardella said.

Source: Sunday Express