Martin Turner surmised that political correctness has gone mad in the news recently with a couple being disallowed from fostering because they are too ‘Christian’ and a woman in the Netherlands being forbidden to wear a Bhurkini swimming outfit because it was deemed too modest.  Political correctness often ascribes views to people who do not hold them.  For example, Birmingham cancelled Christmas and held ‘Winterval’ because it might offend people from other faiths, particularly Muslims, but no-one has claimed they are offended in this way, it’s merely an ill-informed bureaucrat making presumptions. These examples change only vocabulary, not behaviour and result in everything being fudged from glorious multi-colour into a uniform grey - all examples of “Barking Hodgism” (after the honourable member for Barking).

The Conservatives have no policy on multi-culturalism – preferring to harp back to a ‘Golden British Age’ that never really existed.  They only pay lipservice to these issues.  Labour often don’t say anything because they are concerned someone will disagree.

The Liberal position chimes with that of the Christian.  Our democracy is founded on robust debate – anyone can say anything and anyone is free to disagree.  We should rejoice that the blasphemy rules have been abolished.  Our Faith can make its own case in the Marketplace – it needs no special protection.

Paul Holmes explained that he was originally attracted to the SDP (there were no Liberals then in Chesterfield) because of their anti-establishment position.  The last Liberal government to get a landslide (until the next one) was in 1906 when the party campaigned hard against the Conservative attempts to protect the privileged status of Church of England schools.  Where has the Party’s anti-establishment fervour gone?  Research has shown that faith schools achieve good results because they are discriminating (whether intentionally or not) against the most needy students in their selection.  Sacred Heart may achieve better results than its non-faith school competitors, but they also have fewer students with statements of educational needs and free school meals – the markers of disadvantaged students.  Where taxpayers money provided for delivery of public services (hospitals, schools, job seeking, housing provision) surely this delivery should conform with democratically decided law and priorities –not be used to deliver services in a restrictive way according to an exclusive religious creed?

Mohammed Shafiq reminded us that faith plays an important part in everyone’s life.  He explained that his definition of multiculturalism is that we have different faiths but share common goals and values.  When silly decisions are made, like to ‘cancel’ Christmas, it has a bad effect on the whole community -we need respect and tolerance for everyone.

There should be equity – if we have Church schools, we should also be able to have Muslim schools – the best way to combat extremism is to bring in Ofsted inspections and the National Curriculum.  The government tends to (wrongly) assume that ‘Muslims’ or ‘Sikhs’ want x. The media too gives a wrong impression – Muslims are only 1.6m out of 60m people in the UK!

Simon Hughes said he thought that we were having a useful series of discussions about issues which are very real at the moment.  The blasphemy law was outdated and indefensible, we should respect the faith of others, but expect them to be challenged.

Simon is part of the all-party group for conflict issues which seeks to address how we deal with conflict in the world.  Why do we have a Ministry of War?  Surely we want one of Peace!  Since the Buddhist Temple came to his constituency he has had a more active dialogue with that community which has been useful and refreshing.  The benefit of a multi-faith society is that we are exposed to things which are good and challenging.  We must not be introspective – that is the danger of the fundamentalist set.  Other faith leaders have lobbied for representation in reformed House of Lords, but are not keen at the suggestion that appointees are 50/50 men and women – we must confront these attitudes.

The present position on faith schools is not defensible.  We need to grasp the nettle on Faith schools – the party needs to develop a consensus. Admissions should be open – otherwise it can also lead to racial segregation. 

There is the possibility of having a new autumn bank holiday - we need a debate about whether this should be a non-Christian holiday.  Likewise, if we have special arrangements for parking on a Sunday which aids Church goers – we should have similar provisions outside other faith buildings on their Holy day. 

Following points from the floor …

Paul added that there are so many differences within communities, how do you ‘consult faith communities’ as the Government wants?  People look for someone to blame and having mixed communities and schools would help to defer this.  The circles we move in are not necessarily typical of the whole country.  New Zealand and the USA have no faith in schools because they set them up that way – in France it took a revolution.

Mohammed pointed out the problem was often misconceptions.  In Bradford, if Asians move into an area, whites move out, but twinning schools and having joint assemblies is helping to turn things around.  Parents should have a choice about a faith environment, children can make their own mind up when they are older.  There is a worrying trend of trying to marginalise faith in the twenty-first century. There is a fear element about faith – we must not enforce it on others, but neither should we marginalise it.

Martin said that the problem was often one of false representation – bureaucrats deciding and attributing it to someone/ somegroup else.  Similarly, the Daily Mail and Telegraph often claim to speak for Christians, but aren’t.  We should not equate faith with tradition.  People who support faith schools often don’t have a faith themselves – that’s why they have to lie to get in!  Any they probably vote Conservative…  Religion is often used to support tribalism, and to say things which could otherwise not be said!  We have too many laws impinging on faith too much.  There must be space for conscience in law, but we should protect the rights of the individual, not the faith.  Whether we abandon faith schools or not, he’s not bothered - it’s not important enough.

Simon added that we live in a Britain where there are many families with mixed faiths and races, our compartmentalising approach is out of date.  There is still lots of hidden racism and we have to be careful not to play into it.