Negative stereotypes shared in Trevor Phillips survey are 'simply untrue'

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Trevor Phillips (Charlie Forgham-Bailey)

Trevor Philips advocates a much more muscular approach to integration based on an erroneous survey. There are negative stereotypes about Muslim women in the West, that they are voiceless and bereft of their human rights and dignity. These misconceptions are utterly untrue.

Islam enjoins its adherents to be caring, understanding, sympathetic, tolerant and compassionate towards others. Muslims are not hostile to ethnic and religious minorities. As past terrorist attacks have demonstrated, violence spares no religion, culture, nationality, ethnicity and creed.

We need to define what full integration means. A quick glance at our society reveals the cruelty of white carers towards the elderly. The extent of the appalling neglect, abuse, deceit and mistreatment of the elderly, the physically and mentally infirm and the frail is staggering. What about domestic violence; the cover up of child sex abuse scandals by those in the upper echelons of power; the resurrgence of Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant and homophobic attitudes; and the upsurge in knife crimes and gang cultures?

Muslims' presence in Britain should be celebrated, not feared. We can learn from the Holocaust to where the fear of others had led to.

Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob
London, NW2

Maha Akeel (Independent Voices, 13 April 2016) claims that not just a majority but a “vast majority of Muslims, let’s remember, do not live in areas that are 20 per cent Muslim“. This is from a person who obviously has an axe to grind.

Luckily we are but one mouse click away from Wikipedia, so we do not need to rely on propaganda. At the last census in 2011 some 13 per cent of Muslims were living in just two cities with Muslim populations greater than 20 per cent – Birmingham and Bradford – with a further seven local authorities over the 20 per cent mark, bringing the total up to 29 per cent.

She disingenuously suggests that the areas surveyed with a minimum 20 per cent Muslim population might have been considerably smaller than a city. Wikipedia also acknowledges that “it is possible to find small areas that are almost entirely Muslim: for example Savile Town in Dewesbury,” so I would suggest that if the areas in question were neighbourhoods there is in fact a vast majority of Muslims (possibly over 75 per cent) living in areas that are at least 20 per cent Muslim – the exact reverse of what was claimed.

Roger Chapman
Keighley

A question of aspiration

As Holly Baxter has quite rightly identified, the difference between aspiration and wealth creation could not be more marked. After all, if we shared the apparent aspirations of the Prime Minister and many of his Cabinet colleagues – not to mention the previous generations of their families – then who would be left to teach our children, look after the sick and elderly, or keep our streets safe? After all, where is the money in that?

Eamon McMullan
Northern Ireland

What price European democracy?

It saddens me to watch the steady erosion of all the principles of democracy that we veterans fought so hard for, to a team of foreign fellow EU members who tell us what our laws should be. We cannot claim to be a democratic country when we are being made to adhere to and obey laws issued by foreigners.

When Ted Heath took us into the then European Economic Community there was never any talk of invading our sovereign rights; it was simply going to be a profitable commercial enterprise with no strings attached.

I do not wish to become an even more inferior country, incapable of making its own laws, any more than I want to be clinging to a sinking ship where everyone is trying to survive and grab the last life raft. By all means let’s hold hands and be blood brothers in trading, but joint legislation will not, and never will, be tolerated by the really true Brits in the long term.

We may not be what we were, but I like to think that we are quite capable of making a fist of things and becoming good on our own two feet.

Please, don’t allow us to be governed by 27 countries, some of whom aren’t really big enough in size or stature to put their own affairs in order, lame ducks who only want us for our massive input of money. Democracy is a priceless commodity

Name and address supplied

Answer the question on tax avoidance

We have heard much in recent days about tax avoidance and tax evasion. We have also learned how expert our political leaders are at avoiding and evading answering questions that are put to them about their financial affairs.

At the grammar school which I attended we were taught that, when asked a question, we must consider it very carefully, and make sure that it was the question that we answered. We were frequently reminded that marks would be awarded only for answering the question that was set, and not for answering the question that we would like to have been set.

I should obviously have been taught something quite different if I had had the benefit of a very expensive education at one of this country's leading public schools.

Elizabeth Wilkins
Clun, Shropshire

I assume John Bercow wanted to highlight to the Commons that words such as “dodgy” are unacceptable in debates. He did this by pointedly not repeating it himself. Our parliament is rightly proud of the tradition whereby members always refer to each other in respectful terms, regardless of the amount of mud they are throwing across the House. “Dodgy” may not seem that strong, and I daresay Mr Cameron could think of a few adjectives for Mr Skinner, but if MPs are allowed just to hurl personal insults, the level of debate will surely plummet.

Richard Walker
Malvern

While I understand the current calls for tax returns to be transparent, I wonder if anyone has thought of their potential misuse. An individual with numerous assets highlighted in a return will be a prime target for assorted criminals, whether through burglary, phone scams or online fraud.

Robin White
Basingstoke

When I retired I decided to live in Hong Kong. My pensions would support me. Two years ago I was informed by the UK Government that, as I was categorised as a non-resident, my State Pension would be frozen at the rate when I first began receiving it. Some payments were reclaimed by the government.

At a time when there is much news about the benefits of investing offshore it seems the benefits of living offshore are not so appreciated by my government. During all the years I contributed, including a voluntary top up, I don't recall ever being properly informed that annual increases would not be payable if I chose to live overseas. All my pension income is taxed by the UK Government.

At my age I require medication for heart and blood pressure problems, for blood thinning following a minor stroke and for Type 2 Diabetes. However, I am not a drain on the NHS as I have to self-fund treatment and drugs. Perhaps I should return to England and use the NHS for all my treatment and then invest my full state pension in an offshore trust?

Patrick Wood
Hong Kong

Devolution deals are ill-considered

The new devolution deal appears to be being imposed on councils without appropriate scrutiny, consultation and discussion. Currently the priorities of the proposed settlement seem ill-conceived, the funding inadequate and the method profoundly undemocratic. I urge the government to immediately halt this policy.

Cllr Martin Schmierer
Green Party
Norwich City Council

Ruth Davidson dazzles in Scotland

Irrespective of how you intend voting in the May MSP elections this year, you cannot deny the amazing enthusiasm and sparkle shown by Conservative leader Ruth Davidson with her lively presentation making Scottish politics sound almost interesting. While all the polls are showing the SNP well ahead, I wouldn't be surprised to see a late surge to the Conservative vote and also doing well in the list vote.

Dennis Forbes Grattan
Scotland

Nothing to be ashamed of

John Whittingdale need not be ashamed of his relationship with a dominatrix prostitute: since the lady in question was earning, she must be one of those “achievers” who Alan Duncan so lauds. Further, such a punitive pairing surely represents everything that this government is about.

Julian Self
Wolverton

My son did a B.A. in Politics. If he’s power hungry, does he require a dominatrix?

Mike Bor
London, W2

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