“I found myself resenting the idea that one group of people had removed themselves from the values that I admire about Britain, regardless of the level of tolerance and generosity offered to people of all faiths and backgrounds. Not only have some Muslims wilfully detached themselves from this great and ancient democracy, but they are actually opposed to it….
“It’s difficult to say how liberal democracy persuades such a large number of people to share its values, but I do know that we have to examine the processes of segregation which have been allowed to grow in the last few decades. For which reason I support – and urge others to do so – Ruth Kelly’s backing for Denbigh High School in Luton, which is fighting a case against a young woman who wishes to wear strict Islamic dress as her human right…. let’s be candid, we have to look after the things which make us a single, coherent society.”
The liberal press joins the assault on multiculturalism.