![\"BORIS-JOHNSON\"\/](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.dailystar.co.uk\/dynamic\/205\/photos\/307000\/620x\/BORIS-JOHNSON-722962.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe former Foreign Secretary is currently being investigated by the Tory party for comparing Muslim women wearing the full veil to \u201cletter boxes\u201d and bank robbers. <\/p>\n
The BNP released a statement praising Johnson \u2013 who has refused to apologise for his comments \u2013 for \u201cstyling himself on the new model\u201d established by US President Donald Trump. <\/p>\n
It read: "Could it be that Boris has not only taken to heart the Presidents endorsement, but also a queue from his unorthodox, straight-talking populist rhetoric?<\/p>\n
\u201cAlong with the populist nationalist politics that sweeping the West, a new type of politicians is beginning to emerge. <\/p>\n
Related Articles<\/p>\n
\u201cOne that puts the interests of the people first before that of the globalist paymasters.\u201d <\/p>\n
Despite the partys praise for Johnson, the former Foreign Secretary did not go so far as to suggest the burka should be banned. <\/p>\n
But it isnt the first time the far-right party has backed him. <\/p>\n
When Johnson first ran for London Mayor in 2008, the party defended him for labelling black people \u201cpiccaninnies\u2026[with] watermelon smiles\u201d. <\/p>\n
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GETTY\n <\/p>\n
UNAPOLOGETIC: Johnson has refused to back down over his comments on the burka<\/p>\n
He also defended Islamophobia as a \u201cnatural reaction\u201d to the religions growth in the Western world. <\/p>\n
A shock survey over the weekend found 53% of voters think Boris should not have to apologise for his comments. <\/p>\n
Sympathy was much higher among the older respondents, with 77% of over-65s and 63% of 55-64 year-olds saying he should not face discipline, while 62% of 18-24 year-olds and 55% of those in the 25-34 age-group said he should.<\/p>\n
The poll also found Theresa May, who criticised Boriss comments, only just edges above him in popularity, with 26% preferring her as the Conservative leader versus 24% for Johnson.<\/p>\n
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He found an unlikely supporter in the shape of Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson. <\/p>\n
In a letter to The Times, Atkinson said the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip had just been telling a joke.<\/p>\n
He wrote: "As a lifelong beneficiary of the freedom to make jokes about religion, I do think that Boris Johnson's joke about wearers of the burka resembling letterboxes is a pretty good one."<\/p>\n
And he added: "All jokes about religion cause offence, so it's pointless apologising for them.<\/p>\n
\n ![\"ROWAN-ATKINSON\"\/](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.dailystar.co.uk\/dynamic\/205\/photos\/314000\/ROWAN-ATKINSON-1422314.jpg\")
GETTY\n <\/p>\n
BEAN: Rowan Atkinson defended Johnson's 'joke'<\/p>\n
"You should really only apologise for a bad joke. On that basis, no apology is required."<\/p>\n
A niqab is a veil that covers the face but leaves the area around the eyes clear, whereas a burka is a one-piece veil that can just leave a mesh screen over the eyes to see through.<\/p>\n
Islamic feminists often debate if full covering of the face is a symbol of subjugation or the right of a woman to choose what she wears.<\/p>\n
Related articles<\/p>\n
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