"Can someone explain why it takes a socialist government in France to introduce this ban, but if anyone was to put forward the suggestion that this ridiculous mode of dress should be banned in Britain, they would be called at the least right-wing?"
Firstly, it wasn't a socialist government which brought in what is actually a "face-covering" law.
The powers that be only did it because having canvassed opinion there was a huge majority in favour.
Plainly the ban was inspired by islamophobia, despite the fact that only a very small percentage of French Moslem women who wear a face-covering veil. It's hard to see what such a ban achieves in France, or would do here. In fact, in this country it would be largely unworkable. I can't see motorcyclists who have their helmets on being too chuffed about it either.
More a matter of common sense, than left or right I think