Cameron supports Clarke over burqa view

But he declined to comment on Mr Clarke’s description of the all-covering burqa worn by some Muslim women as “a kind of bag”.

Asked at a regular Westminster media briefing whether the PM agreed that the burqa was like a bag, the spokesman said: “The central point Mr Clarke was making is about juries being able to look at someone’s face.

“That is something that the Prime Minister agrees with, yes.”

He added: “There is an important issue around dress codes and uniform policies in a number of institutions and it is very important that those institutions should be able to set and enforce them. For example, schools that have uniform policies. There may be cases at borders where it may be important to ascertain someone’s identity.”

Former Justice Secretary Mr Clarke, now a Minster Without Portfolio, said yesterday that body language plays a vital part in allowing jurors to assess if a witness is telling the truth and insisted he could not see how that was possible “when they are facing somebody who is veiled”.

Mr Clarke, a barrister by profession, had said: “I don’t think a witness should be allowed to give evidence from behind a veil.”

He added: “It’s almost impossible to have a proper trial if one of the persons (is) in a kind of bag.”

Mr Clarke, renowned for being one of the most liberal members of his party, said women should be able to wear “what the devil they like” but in a courtroom the judge and jury “have got to be able to see the face of the witness”.

“It’s a most peculiar costume for people to adopt in the 21st century,” he added.

Mr Clarke called for a “clear rule” for courts but insisted his comments were “not based on any trace of Islamophobia”.