The Australian Government has spelt out bluntly what it expects of its ethnic minority communities and we in the UK should do the same," [Sir Nicholas] Winterton wrote. "They should stop politicising dress, such as wearing the hijab and burkha, they should learn English, they should not return to their homelands to get a spouse, cease forced marriages and accept once and for all that the United Kingdom is not, and never will be, an Islamic state."

The director of the local Racial Equality Council, Shantele Janes, said her office was extremely concerned by the article. "We are appalled that someone in his position would be so irresponsible as to make the comments he did, contributing to the climate of hostility towards Muslims in the UK," she said.

The Conservative Party Central Office is also distancing itself from Winterton's comments, calling them his own personal views and not those of the party. [Link]