A More Fractured Society
Saturday, 9. December 2006, 06:40:08
Telegraph - 12/08/06
by Neil Tweedie
Multi-culturalism may have fractured society, admits Kelly
Ruth Kelly will break with decades of Labour orthodoxy today by suggesting that multiculturalism may have resulted in a more fractured society.
The Communities Secretary is the first member of the Cabinet to warn publicly of the dangers of promoting cultural and religious difference in Britain at the expense of national "cohesion".
In a speech, she will acknowledge that the terrorist threat posed by British-born Muslim extremists has heightened tensions in some communities, particularly following the uncovering of an alleged plot to bomb trans-atlantic airliners.
In another break with previous policy she will address the issue of mass immigration, arguing that to discuss the subject is not being racist.
The move follows figures showing that about 1.5 million people from inside and outside the EU have settled in Britain since Labour's election victory in 1997.
Her remarks follow a bullish speech earlier this month by John Reid, the Home Secretary, in which he rejected discussion of the immigration issue as racist.
Addressing Muslim extremism, Miss Kelly will endorse measures such as the promotion of moderate Islam by regional forums and Muslim clerics taking part in "roadshows". "Alongside the debate we need action at all levels - national but, even more importantly, from local communities themselves to help build united communities and root out all forms of extremism," she says.
"The landscape is changing before our eyes and, for some communities in particular, life in Britain feels different today than it did two weeks ago."
The commission will produce a report on its findings next year.
Labour ministers have become more blunt in their warnings about the dangers from Muslim extremism.
This week Phil Woolas, the minister for community cohesion, told a gathering of Muslim and other representatives the war against Islamic terrorism was likely to last a generation.
Read Article
by Neil Tweedie
Multi-culturalism may have fractured society, admits Kelly
Ruth Kelly will break with decades of Labour orthodoxy today by suggesting that multiculturalism may have resulted in a more fractured society.
The Communities Secretary is the first member of the Cabinet to warn publicly of the dangers of promoting cultural and religious difference in Britain at the expense of national "cohesion".
In a speech, she will acknowledge that the terrorist threat posed by British-born Muslim extremists has heightened tensions in some communities, particularly following the uncovering of an alleged plot to bomb trans-atlantic airliners.
In another break with previous policy she will address the issue of mass immigration, arguing that to discuss the subject is not being racist.
The move follows figures showing that about 1.5 million people from inside and outside the EU have settled in Britain since Labour's election victory in 1997.
Her remarks follow a bullish speech earlier this month by John Reid, the Home Secretary, in which he rejected discussion of the immigration issue as racist.
Addressing Muslim extremism, Miss Kelly will endorse measures such as the promotion of moderate Islam by regional forums and Muslim clerics taking part in "roadshows". "Alongside the debate we need action at all levels - national but, even more importantly, from local communities themselves to help build united communities and root out all forms of extremism," she says.
"The landscape is changing before our eyes and, for some communities in particular, life in Britain feels different today than it did two weeks ago."
The commission will produce a report on its findings next year.
Labour ministers have become more blunt in their warnings about the dangers from Muslim extremism.
This week Phil Woolas, the minister for community cohesion, told a gathering of Muslim and other representatives the war against Islamic terrorism was likely to last a generation.
Read Article
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