UK hands out 1,000 hijabs to channel migrants: Tories blast use of taxpayers’ money to fund ‘instruments of suppression’ for illegal arrivals

Small-boat migrants have been given more than 1,000 free hijabs on the British taxpayer this year, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Internal government figures show that officials have been handing over Muslim head coverings to those illegally landing on our shores at a rate of 162 a month.

On Saturday, the Conservatives said it was ‘an insult to hard-working British taxpayers’ to dish out hijabs to those ‘breaking into our country’ – although the Home Office insisted it had a legal duty to provide them.

The disclosure comes amid growing political controversy over Muslim headwear, which many critics regard as symbols of female subservience.

Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott told this newspaper she was opposed to hijabs being part of school uniforms, saying: ‘I do not believe the state should be party to an instrument of female suppression.’

News of the free headgear comes as there is mounting public frustration over the flow of migrants across the Channel and potential security implications.

On Friday, two Iranian nationals who had arrived on small boats were charged with planning a terrorist attack over an alleged plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community during Yom Kippur.

The hijab row erupted as:

Home Office documents show that between January and June, 974 hijabs were given to boat migrants. At that rate, the total is likely to be close to 1,500 by now.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: ‘The Government must stop handing out hijabs to illegal immigrants immediately. 

‘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.

‘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.’

A Home Office source said it had a legal duty to provide basic clothing, including cultural and religious items, under the Short-term Holding Facility Rules. 

It added: ‘All arrivals receive a basic dry clothing pack where required. The items available form part of standard welfare arrangements.’

The fact that three-quarters of the migrants are men is reflected in the clothing statistics: a total of 10,694 male clothing packs were handed over, including 22 in XXX Large size. 

Just 2,670 packs were given to women, 773 to boys and 829 to girls. The list also includes 572 beanie hats and 350 babygrows.

Last month, Education Secretary Lucy Powell said it was unacceptable for schools to require young girls to wear the hijab, after a London primary school insisted pupils as young as seven don them. 

While her Tory shadow, Ms Trott, praised that stance, she added: ‘But she’s done nothing about it. This would not happen under us.’

More than 19,000 small-boat migrants have arrived so far this year, down by 42 per cent compared to the same period in 2025. 

However, the numbers travelling on each vessel has increased, with an average of 67 migrants packing dangerously on to every boat.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has claimed that Brexit has made it harder to stop the boats, because ‘we are not able to have the same levels of collaboration that we used to have’.

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.’