Legal challenge to anti-burka MP

A TORY MP has been warned he could face legal action if he follows through on a threat to refuse to meet constituents wearing burkas.

Lawyers for Liberty has written to Philip Hollobone insisting that the Equality Act obliges him to avoid discrimination.

The missive says the campaigning group "will be happy to represent any of your constituents that you refuse to meet because they are veiled".

The Kettering MP sparked a row earlier this month when he argued that he needed to be face to face with voters who wanted his help.

He said he would "invite" anyone who did not wish to remove their veil to communicate with him in a "different way", such as by letter.

Hollobone is trying to bring in a Private Member's Bill to ban women wearing the burka or niqab in public, after the French introduced a similar rule.