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Cameron condemns lack of Muslim integration in Britain
Last updated at 15:22pm on 05.06.07
David Cameron: 'Muslims are not integrating'
David Cameron has launched himself into the debate on 'Britishness' claiming that young Muslims are becoming more separated from society than their parents.
He claimed the UK was facing a growing problem of "cultural separatism" where the next generation of British Muslims were further away from mainstream society than the previous generation.
In an attempt to remedy the problem the Tory leader has said advocated lessons on "being British" and said all immigrants should speak English.
Warning that the country had failed to build a sense of common citizenship Mr Cameron said Britain should follow the example of the US, which had succeeded in achieving a real sense of "what it means to be an American".
He called for history to be taught "properly" in schools in a way that celebrated Britain's positive achievements at home and abroad.
His comments echoed recent remarks and concerns raised by senior Labour figures.
Leader of the Commons Jack Straw has also pointed to the US example, while a pamphlet today by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called for a national "Britain" day to strengthen citizenship.
Mr Cameron, addressing the Islam And Muslims In The World Today conference in London, said Britain was facing a growing problem of "cultural separatism".
He said that Britain had failed to create a sense of national identity embraced by all, regardless of their faith or ethnic origins, in the way that America had.
"Of course America is not perfect. But it does succeed in creating, to an extent far more evident that we have achieved here, a real sense of common identity - about what it means to be an American," he said.
"It is this strong sense of inclusive identity that has helped make so many people feel part of American society.
"In Britain, we have to be honest: we have failed to do the same. We have not opened up our sense of citizenship to all those that have come to live here."
Mr Cameron said that history lessons should teach children about concepts such as the rule of law, free speech, freedom of the individual and parliamentary democracy.
"This does not mean we have to gloss over all the things we are not entirely proud of, but we should at least celebrate the many positive things Britain has achieved both at home and abroad," he said.
"After all, you do not earn respect by constantly denigrating and repudiating your own culture."
At the same time, ensuring that all immigrants can speak English would help to foster a shared sense of identity, he said.
"Ultimately, it is an emotional connection that binds a country together. It is by contact that we overcome our differences - and realise that though our origins and our cultures may vary, we all share common values," he said.
"The most basic contact comes from talking to each other: and if people cannot speak the English this becomes near impossible."
Reader views (7)
I've been out of the country for a while but have been following the press. I take the point Jan, that we do in fact have to conform to living in Muslim countries, but most of us British expats here in Saudi Arabia don't conform so much as we obey the laws. In fact conformity and doing our bit to muddle in with everyone else isn't what the British expat community in the middle east is about at all. In this regard, how are Muslims from Britain with the same kind of mindset expected to conform AT HOME anyway?
Furthermore, is what is all this talk of Muslims being recipients a 'soft touch' and how exactly are they to blame for the direction the country is heading in? To what degree are they to blame for a failing economy, C-diff, alcohol related crime and yob culture?
- Toby, Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Who isn't alienated here? Most of us feel alienated in this society with its shallow obsession with money and celebrity and its trashiness. The whole place if a foreign land, is anyone happy with the state of things ?
- Tomtom, Leeds England
I agree with what Mr. Cameron has to say, however he is wrong to think that America is not under the same fire storm, we to are losing our cultural identities, maybe not to the extreme Britain is, but its coming, and we wont be far behind were you are before to much longer, I whole heartily agree with Judith C, we have to stop this PC crap and be proud we are Americans and British.
- Heather S, Alexandria, VA USA
If we British were to live in a Muslim country we would have to adopt their culture and way of doing things. Why is that Muslims who live in this country have to be pussyfooted around and we have to conform to their ways. It is absurd. I for one am not happy with the way this country is heading.
- Jan, Romford, Essex
Well said and about time! Most of us already knew this, just our government always denies these problems that have grown with their open door immigration policy.
- Brandon Thomas, London, UK
Who's written this speech for Cameron? For once, he's saying something that needs to be said, but that we, the public (or at least those of us who think and have lived) have known for years: be ashamed of your own culture, denigrate or downplay your past, apologise for all sorts of things that should never be apologised for, encourage multi-culturalism with all the divisiveness that implies, allow your customs and traditions to fall into decay (or ban them altogether) because they might offend someone, let our own religion take second place or less to immigrants' religions...and what do you have? The emptiness we're living in now. Who is to blame, as apportion blame we must, that's part of today's mores - the pc bigots who have somehow or the other wormed their way to the top of the pile and are directing their bile at us daily. Get rid of them, let us revert to how we were, and there's no need for a "British" day, week or year. We will be proud of being British instead of ashamed, and proud of our country again. Somehow, with the sickly gutless leaders we have I can't see anything changing - for the better, that is.
- Judith Chisholm, London
Taking into account the many social, economic racial and international dilemmas facing us one might argue that the insurance against future military conflict that increases in our armed services, including periods of compulsory National Service, could be a sensible approach.
- Robert, Kirk Ella, East Yorks
