Okay, I know it's probably a first move on the Labour Pary leadership/deputy post, but that aside:

As I understood the matter, Jack straw asked women at his surgery to remove their veils during interviews (ensuring that there was a female member of his staff present at all times), and that these same women had the right to refuse - the business about his aversion to the veil generally came out as a result of newspaper and radio interviews.
I'm sure someone out there will correct me.

One point, I wonder how his female constituants would feel if, on their refusing to remove the veil, Straw were to pull on a ski mask or something similar, just to put them on an equal footing? (and before anyone jumps down my throat about it, yes, I do know it's a ridiculous idea).

W