“If people were convinced that Islamic extremists had little support among British Muslims it would be easy to write the off as an eccentric fringe element. In such a context, plans for rallies by fundamentalists to press claims for a wholesale switch to sharia law in Britain could be regarded with equanimity rather than alarm.

“Unfortunately, that is not the case. With the threat of Islamist terrorism a major factor in our national life and with a bewildering array of Muslim pressure groups always ready to press for new cultural concessions, the British public has come to a depressing conclusion: give them an inch and they will take a mile.”

The Daily Express tries to defend yesterday’s hysterical and entirely misleading front-page coverage of the planned al-Muhajiroun demonstration in London. Predictably, the leader goes on to attack “moderate Muslims” for failing to “marginalise extremists”, which of course entirely ignores the direct action taken against al-Muhajiroun by Muslims in Luton.

Update:  See also ENGAGE, 16 October 2009

Further update:  The Express editorial has been reproduced word for word in the latest issue of National Front News.