The source of that quote is a change.org petition. But come to think of it, that's a good point - if Boris objects to letterboxlike ladies' wear, does he also object to balaclavas, hoodies, etc? Twill be a cold winter for the noses of hardy British cyclists if so!

I might say that I'm no fan at all of face-coverings, but I'd be of the opinion that the best way to make girls want to wear something is to ban it.

Incidentally, I was invited to dine the other night in a lovely balti place, and the chatty owner told me that those face veils are used in northern India as a way of sheltering from too much sun. I don't know about that - wearing black doesn't seem like a good idea in high sun - but she also said that in the kind of heat they get there, people only go outdoors before noon (or maybe it was earlier) and after five. They're probably good against the accursed midges, anyway. Perhaps I'll take up wearing one on lake walks, see if it works.