Free hijabs handed out to nearly 1,000 small boat migrants - ‘an insult’

Free hijabs handed out to nearly 1,000 small boat migrants - ‘an insult’ Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said it 'should not' be up to Britons to 'fund someone else's religious practices'. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By James Knuckey 09:54, Sun, Oct 4, 2026 Updated: 09:57, Sun, Oct 4, 2026 File image of a migrant small boat travelling towards Britain (Image: Getty) British taxpayers have paid for more than 1,000 free hijabs for small boat migrants so far this year, new figures suggest. The Conservatives said it is “an insult to hard-working British taxpayers” to hand out the free head coverings to those “breaking into our country”. The Home Office has insisted it has a legal duty to provide the headwear, worn by Muslim women and girls. It comes as the Government comes under growing pressure to tackle the small boats crisis . Last week, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the “madness must be stopped” after this newspaper revealed the death toll from the deadly crossings had passed 180 . Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT The real reason Andy Burnham is terrified of cutting benefits will shock you Uproar at defence minister's claim about those who fight for Britain Get the latest politics news - straight from our team in Westminster and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . Senior Tory Chris Philp called on Labour to stop handing out free hijabs to small boat migrants (Image: Getty) That figure rose again on Monday when a 10-year-old child and two women died after they were “likely crushed” in a dinghy while attempting to cross the English Channel , French authorities said. Home Office documents, revealed by The Mail on Sunday , show 974 hijabs were given to small boat asylum seekers between January and June this year. The total is likely to be close to 1,500 now, based on the rate of 162 a month. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called on the Government to “immediately” stop handing out hijabs to migrants crossing the Channel on dinghies. He told The Mail on Sunday: “It's an insult to hard-working British taxpayers that they're funding religious items for people who have broken into our country. It should not be for us to fund someone else's religious practices. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT “Many illegal immigrants actually hate our values. Many come here for free accommodation and a life on benefits at our expense. Illegal immigrants crossing the channel are breaking into our country. They have no legitimate reason to flee France, which is clearly safe. That's why we must leave the European Convention on Human Rights so we can deport all illegal immigrants immediately upon arrival.” Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT A Home Office source told the newspaper the Government has a legal duty to provide basic clothing, including cultural and religious items. More than 19,000 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year — down 42% compared to the same point last year. Earlier this week, it was confirmed the “one in, one out” migrant deal with France has been scrapped. The Home Office said the pilot scheme is “no longer processing new cases”, after France reportedly demanded a Europe-wide deal instead. UK ministers would have willingly seen it continue, it is understood. The returns deal was a flagship policy under Sir Keir Starmer who left Number 10 in July. Under the scheme, people who arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel could be detained and returned to France in exchange for an equivalent number of asylum seekers who applied through a safe and legal route. Some 1,500 asylum seekers had been deported as of October 1, while slightly fewer than that came to Britain from France, it is understood. Deportation flights will continue in the coming weeks for those who have already been detained. A Home Office spokesman said: “We have made progress tackling the small boats. Crossings are down significantly. We have just recorded the fewest summer arrivals since 2020.” Migrant Crisis English Channel migrant crossings Immigration English Channel Labour Party Conservative Party France Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments