Reform MSPs accused of racism over burka ban debate at Holyrood

John Swinney has accused Reform MSPs of racism ahead of a Holyrood debate about banning face-coverings, including burkas, from public places.

Reform's deputy leader in Scotland, Thomas Kerr, has lodged a motion raising the prospect of balaclavas and religious face coverings being outlawed in public in the interests of public safety.

At First Minister's Questions, Swinney said Reform MSPs were seeking to divide communities.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who has said he would ban face coverings in public places if he became prime minister, has claimed they are "not the British way".

Kerr's motion cites the "ongoing debate" about face coverings, "including the burka and niqab, in public places".

It says that several European countries have imposed restrictions on face coverings.

Kerr calls for the Scottish government to consider the "potential benefits" of such a move "including consideration of public safety, individual liberty and community cohesion".

The burka is a veil worn by some Muslim women that covers the face and body, often leaving a mesh screen to see through.

It covers more of the face than a niqab, a veil that leaves the area around the eyes clear, or a hijab which is a headscarf that in the West most commonly covers the head and neck but leaves the face clear.

Swinney told parliament that he would "always defend the safety of every single community in our country and I deplore the content of the debate tonight".

He accused Reform of having "brought racism" into the Holyrood chamber.

"I've answered questions in here for many years from this podium," Swinney said.

"Not once have I been asked to ban the burka or to divide communities in our country."

Pointing towards the Reform benches, he added: "But I have been invited to do so since May, since that lot came into this parliament. That speaks for itself."

Kerr, in a statement issued in response to Swinney's criticism, said: "By admitting that contentious topics like face coverings have never been raised in the chamber before, John Swinney has eloquently explained why so many people have voted Reform.

"This might not be a topic he wants to talk about, but it is one of many that Reform was voted into Parliament to raise."

Concerns have grown in recent months about masked protesters at anti-immigration demonstrations, as well as balaclava-clad youths in city centres across the UK.

Some have called for Police Scotland to be given powers that officers have in England and Wales to set up temporary mask-free zones during protests.

For a motion to be debated in the Scottish Parliament it has to be backed by at least one member of another party.

Kerr's motion was backed by Conservative justice spokesman Stephen Kerr - though he lodged an amendment stating that "a clear distinction must be made between people peacefully wearing religious dress and those deliberately concealing their identity in circumstances connected with criminality or serious disorder".

While selected members' business motions are debated by parliament, they are not voted on.

An anti-racism protest is to be staged at the parliament ahead of the debate.

In Scotland, police can order people to remove face coverings in limited circumstances.

Under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, officers can stop and search pedestrians and vehicles for offensive weapons in designated areas. While the legislation does not specifically allow police to remove a face covering, it does authorise a search during which that could happen.

That can only be authorised by senior officers when there is a reasonable suspicion that serious violence could happen in the area, or that people are carrying weapons without good reason.

In England and Wales, officers can order people to remove face coverings and seize items used to conceal identity under similar circumstances cited in Scotland's Section 60.

As of April, however, officers south of the border have been empowered to declare an area a mask-free zone for up to 24 hours during protests - though exemptions are made for reasons of religion, health or work.

Those found in breach of the rules in the zones can face a £1,000 fine and up to one month in jail.

Police Scotland has said it is "monitoring the impact and effectiveness" of that legislation.

Separately in Nottingham, police and council officers have recently been given powers to order the removal of balaclavas in the city centre, but the move does not apply to face coverings used for religious or other legitimate reasons.

Farage has long called for a so-called "burka ban".

Reform UK announced last month that it would ban face coverings in public places, including burkas and balaclavas, if it won power at the next election.

Several countries - including France, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Chad and Algeria - have introduced restrictions on where face coverings can be worn.

In a recent social media post, Kerr said it was "time Scotland joined" such countries.

The Italian government approved a ban on the burka and niqab in schools earlier this year.