Stanley Johnson in awkward TV stand-off for saying female fighter pilots 'shouldn't wear burkas'
The Prime Minister’s dad Stanley Johnson has been criticised for suggesting female fighter pilots should not wear burkas.
The 79-year-old made the comment during an appearance on Channel 4’s Alternative Election Night programme before his son Boris Johnson had stormed to victory in the general election.
Johnson, who was part of a panel alongside comedian Nish Kumar and TV judge Robert Rinder, said: “If I was a female fighter jet pilot, I would expect someone to say ‘don’t wear a burka’.”
Johnson was immediately heckled by the audience while Kumar placed his head in his hands and said: “What are you talking about man?”
A flustered Rinder said: “We’d expect them to be qualified. That’s the only thing that matters.”
He added: “That’s disgraceful.”
Johnson replied: “Have you ever flown a plane?”
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The author and former politician then asked if there are “certain circumstances,” including court, where people are required to show their face.
“I might be totally wrong,” he said. Rinder replied: “You’re talking complete rubbish.”
Kumar, in disbelief, said: “What is going on here?”
The Prime Minister has previously attracted criticism for comparing veiled Muslim women to letterboxes and bank robbers.
Johnson was also slammed when he said the British public 'couldn't spell Pinocchio' when defending his son Boris against accusations of lying.
Johnson, who was a contestant on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2017, said he was “very, very pleased with the exit polls” indicating there would be a Conservative majority.
