More than 1,000 free hijabs have been provided to migrants who arrived in the UK by small boat this year, with the cost covered by British taxpayers, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Government figures show that officials have issued Muslim head coverings at an average rate of 162 a month to people who crossed the Channel and landed in Britain unlawfully.
The Conservatives on Saturday described the policy as ‘an insult to hard-working British taxpayers’, accusing the Government of distributing hijabs to people ‘breaking into our country’. The Home Office, however, said it has a legal obligation to provide them.
The disclosure comes during an increasingly heated political debate about Muslim headwear, which some critics view as a symbol of female subservience.
Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott told this newspaper that she opposed hijabs forming part of school uniforms. ‘I do not believe the state should be party to an instrument of female suppression,’ she said.
The figures have emerged as public concern grows over the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats and the potential security risks associated with the arrivals.
On Friday, two Iranian nationals who arrived in the UK by small boat were charged with preparing a terrorist attack. They are accused of plotting to target Manchester’s Jewish community during Yom Kippur.
More than 1,000 free hijabs have been provided to small-boat migrants at the expense of British taxpayers this year, The Mail on Sunday can reveal
More than 19,000 small-boat crossings to Britain have been attempted this year
The dispute over the provision of hijabs follows the release of figures showing that:
Home Office documents record that 974 hijabs were issued to small-boat migrants between January and June. If that monthly rate continued, the total is expected to have reached almost 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.
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‘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 ministers had a legal duty under the Short-term Holding Facility Rules to provide basic clothing, including items linked to cultural and religious needs.
The source added: ‘All arrivals receive a basic dry clothing pack where required. The items available form part of standard welfare arrangements.’
The clothing figures also reflect the fact that around three-quarters of the migrants are men. In total, 10,694 men’s clothing packs were distributed, including 22 in XXX Large.
Women received 2,670 packs, while 773 were issued to boys and 829 to girls. The figures also include 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.’
