UK PM says Boris Johnson should apologise over burqa comments

British Prime Minister Theresa May backed calls today for her former foreign minister Boris Johnson to apologise for disparaging comments he made about Muslim women wearing burqas -- but he branded his critics "ridiculous".

May said his remarks "have clearly caused offence" and agreed with the chairman of her Conservative party, Brandon Lewis, who had asked Johnson to apologise.

"I do think that we all have to be very careful about the language and terms we use. And some of the terms Boris used describing people's appearance obviously have offended," the prime minister said.

"What's important is do we believe people should have the right to practise their religion and, in the case of women and the burqa and niqab, to choose how they dress."
"We have to call it out. If we fail to speak up for liberal values then we are simply yielding ground to reactionaries and extremists." - 'Dog-whistle tactics' -
His remarks drew condemnation from former colleagues. Junior foreign minister Alistair Burt told the BBC: "I would never have made such a comment, I think there is a degree of offence in that, absolutely right."