Fair play to Jack Straw and Ruth Kelly

I am afraid I am going to have to court political and religious controversy again. After Jack Straw and his comments about the veil — with which I am confident that a majority of people in this country are entirely in agreement — now Ruth Kelly is getting it in the neck from various “Muslim groups” for her comments that in future, the government will be inclined to direct British government funding more towards the Muslim organisations which oppose those who want to blow British citizens up, rather than those who support such people.

As usual, the government is bending over backwards to be inclusive and not to offend anyone who is remotely rational or reasonable. From Ruth Kelly’s speech:

“And all of this needs to be grounded in a set of non–negotiable values. They belong to us all. They are found in Islam as much as in Christian, Sikh, Hindu, Jewish and other traditions: respect for the law; freedom of speech; equality of opportunity; respect for others and responsibility towards others”.

Ruth Kelly has been unnecessarily generous to certain people in that statement. There is no evidence that the “Islam” followed by those from whom it is proposed that funding be withheld has a place for any of those values. The extremists have no respect for English law, consistently oppose freedom of speech, believe in the subordination of women, have no respect for others whose beliefs and values differ from their own and accept none of the responsibilities that come with the right to reside in this country. And if you are totally opposed to the basic values held by the large majority of people in this country — values which I believe to be right on an a priori basis in any event — please explain to me why I should give a toss about how offended you are at the suggestion that my government is to cease to fund your organisations with my hard–earned taxes?