'Like being in a kind of bag’: Tory minister Ken Clarke weighs in on wearing veil in court

Former Justice Secretary wades into debate on women wearing the veil in court, adding that ‘it’s a most peculiar costume for 21st century’

Veteran Conservative Ken Clarke, who has said women giving evidence in court should not be able to wear the veil because it is almost impossible to have a proper trial when they are "in a kind of bag" (GETTY)

A senior Tory minister has said that women should not be allowed to give evidence while wearing the veil in court because they are “in a kind of bag”.

Ken Clarke, the former Justice Secretary and a barrister by profession, added that he thinks “it's a most peculiar costume for people to adopt in the 21st century”.

Now a minister without portfolio, Mr Clarke made the comments while speaking on Radio 4’s World This Weekend. It comes in the wake of a widespread debate on Muslim women’s right to wear the veil in public institutions and after a judge ruled that a female defendant could not give evidence while doing so.

The 73-year-old, widely regarding as among the more liberal members of the Conservative party, said that body language plays an important role in allowing jurors to decide whether or not a witness is telling the truth.

He said he could not see how this was possible “when they are facing somebody who is veiled”.

Mr Clarke said he agreed with Theresa May’s comments that it is not the Government’s place to tell women what they can and cannot wear, but said that a judge and jury “have got to be able to see the face of the witness”.

“I don't think a witness should be allowed to give evidence from behind a veil,” he said.

“It's almost impossible to have a proper trial if one of the persons (is) in a kind of bag.

“It's a most peculiar costume for people to adopt in the 21st century,” he added.

Mr Clarke echoed judges’ calls for a “clear rule” for courts but insisted his comments were “not based on any trace of Islamophobia”.

It is not the first time Mr Clarke has come out with controversial comments on a difficult issue. He was forced to apologise and admitted that he had chosen his words “very, very badly” in May 2011 when he suggested that some rapes were less serious than others.