Chelsea legend and former England captain John Terry has appeared to join calls to ban the burqa in the UK.
Terry’s apparent views were displayed on an Instagram post by Rupert Lowe, the former Reform UK MP who recently launched another political party called Restore Britain.
Lowe, who was once Southampton chairman, shared a post on Instagram of a London Underground station that had Bengali signage on the outside.
He said: ‘This picture was taken in London. Restore Britain would ban the burqa, and Restore Britain would ensure that all London stations use English, and English only. Enough is enough.
‘Vote Restore Britain to get our capital city back.’
A burqa is the clothing that some Muslim women wear to cover their body apart from a small gap around their eyes. Other European countries such as France have previously banned it in public.
Terry commented on Lowe’s post as he replied with three clapping emojis and an England flag.
This caused a stir as the former defender faced a backlash, but Lowe shared another post leaping to the defence of Terry.
He posted the same picture and added: ‘I see that England/Chelsea legend John Terry is taking some flak for applauding Restore Britain’s policy of banning the burqa and ensuring that all London stations use English, and English only.
‘This is the position the vast majority of the British people support.
‘There is now a political party that will say exactly what people think and fight to make it happen. Restore Britain.
‘If we get called names? WHO CARES. It does not matter. We do not care, and nor should you. This isn’t 2015 anymore. These insults mean nothing.
‘More people need to show some courage and stand up for what the majority thinks.
‘Restore Britain is doing exactly that. We are going to get our country back.’
Lowe’s original post came earlier this month, with his specific defence of Terry being shared on Sunday morning.
The 68-year-old, who represents Great Yarmouth, was elected as a Reform UK MP in 2024 before he was later suspended and left the party following allegations of threatening behaviour towards a colleague and workplace bullying.