Johnson – who recently resigned as British foreign secretary – went on to say that individual businesses or branches of Government should be free to enforce a dress code that enables their workers to best interact with customers – which could involve removing the veils.

However, he added: “I am against a total ban because it is inevitably construed – rightly or wrongly – as being intended to make some point about Islam.”

Responding to the politician’s Islamophobic comments, the Muslim Women’s Network (MWNUK) has branded Johnson as being hugely “irresponsible”.

“His comments will incite hatred and put Muslim women who veil in danger,” says a spokesperson for the feminist charity. “Instead of challenging similar far right rhetoric, Boris Johnson is pandering to their agenda by deliberately adopting xenophobic discourses. He knows the face veil has become an emotive issue in Europe and is using this issue to get media attention and publicity.”

The MWNUK spokesperson continues: “It is worrying that some politicians continue to give Muslim women’s dress disproportionate attention given that of the 1.4 million Muslim women and girls in the UK, only a tiny minority of Muslim women (potentially from a few hundred to even a few thousand) wear the face veil. It is also interesting to note that in this widespread campaign against the face veil across Europe, the leading voices are those of men.

“They are using women’s dress as a political tool to promote fear and hatred.”

The Muslim Women’s Network has a powerful message for Boris Johnson