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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called on Theresa May to condemn Boris Johnson's burka comments, saying they were Islamophobic and "dog whistle politics".

She said: "My views on Boris Johnson's comments are that they are reprehensible and disgraceful.

"They are deliberate though, and deliberately provocative.

"I'm a wee bit cynical about these calls for him to apologise. You call for someone to apologise if they have made a mistake, Boris Johnson didn't make mistake.

"He knew what he was doing and it's a kind of dog whistle politics that he's indulging in.

"It is Islamophobia and I think it's pretty outrageous."

(Image: Carl Court/Getty Images)

Mrs May has backed calls for Boris Johnson to apologise for his comments about Muslim women who wear burkas, remarks which she said "clearly caused offence".

May said: "I do think that we all have to be very careful about the language and terms we use.

"And some of the terms Boris used describing people's appearance obviously have offended.

"So I agree with Brandon Lewis.

"What's important is do we believe people should have the right to practise their religion and, in the case of women and the burka and niqab, to choose how they dress.

"I believe women should be able to choose how they dress."

Mrs May also said: "These are issues that are openly discussed but in having that discussion it's important that people think carefully about the language that they use, certain terms in describing people's appearance that Boris Johnson used have clearly caused offence, that's why I have said I agree with Brandon Lewis."