Thread: Adopt our values or stay away, says Blair

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... w_09122006

Adopt our values or stay away, says Blair

By Philip Johnston, Home Affairs Editor
Last Updated: 1:29am GMT 09/12/2006

Your view: what next for "multicultural" Britain?
Full text of Blair's multiculturalism speech
Audio: Andrew Pierce on why Blair isn't facing questions
Tony Blair formally declared Britain's multicultural experiment over yesterday as he told immigrants they had ''a duty" to integrate with the mainstream of society.
In a speech that overturned more than three decades of Labour support for the idea, he set out a series of requirements that were now
expected from ethnic minority groups if they wished to call themselves British.
These included "equality of respect" - especially better treatment of women by Muslim men - allegiance to the rule of law and a command of English.
If outsiders wishing to settle in Britain were not prepared to conform to the virtues of tolerance then they should stay away. He added: "Conform to it; or don't come here. We don't want the hate-mongers, whatever their race, religion or creed.
"If you come here lawfully, we welcome you. If you are permitted to stay here permanently, you become an equal member of our community and become one of us. The right to be different. The duty to integrate. That is what being British means."
Mr Blair's volte face - just eight years ago he championed multiculturalism - was the culmination of a long Labour retreat from the cause. In recent weeks, Jack Straw, Ruth Kelly, John Reid and Gordon Brown have all played their part in a concerted revision of the Cabinet's stand which began in earnest after the July 7 suicide bombings in London last year.
Mr Blair, speaking in Downing Street, said the diversity of cultures in Britain should still be celebrated but the tone of his speech was against the ideology that became known as multiculturalism.
"The right to be in a multicultural society was always implicitly balanced by a duty to integrate, to be part of Britain, to be British and Asian, British and black, British and white," he said
The bombings had thrown the whole concept of a multicultural Britain "into sharp relief" and highlighted the divisions in society. While it was right that people should enjoy their own cultures, they should do so under a single set of overarching values.

"When it comes to our essential values, the belief in democracy, the rule of law, tolerance, equal treatment for all, respect for this country and its shared heritage — then that is where we come together, it is what gives us what we hold in common; it is what givesright to call ourselves British," said Mr Blair.
"At that point no distinctive culture or religion supercedes our duty to be part of an integrated United Kingdom."
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Yeah right, go tell that to the Scots. Scotland is all but gone thanks to your little experiment. This has been the second Highland clearance with no regard for the people who live there, wheather born Scots or immigrants who wanted to assimulate.
The people of Scotland can no longer afford to live there and are dealing with all the problems we are here in the US.
Tony Blair can pog mo thon, he and others have helped destroy a entire country with a great history.
It's no wonder the Scots want to desolve their union with England.
Many of them will not fly the British flag, only the Scottish Saltire and they are trying to go back to a gaelic speaking country.
I wish them luck.
Alba gu brath.

It is a shame that the damage is done, but it is nice to hear that they are trying to enforce things now. That is better than what we have here, absolutely no support what-so-ever.