Wembley & Willesden Observer: "Multiculturalism is thriving in Brent - Barry Gardiner"

"A BRENT MP has criticised a speech by the Conservative prime minister about the failings of 'state multiculturalism'.

David Cameron argued in the speech, given at a security conference in Munich on February 5, that the UK needed a stronger national identity to prevent people turning to extremism.

But Barry Gardiner, Labour MP for Brent North said Mr Cameron's speech, 'muddied' multiculturalism with terrorism and extremism. Mr Gardiner said:

"The prime minister talked of the importance of having a shared sense of history, yet he chose to give his speech in Munich. If only he had visited Brent beforehand.

Here he would discover a community that speaks 160 different languages and still lives at peace with itself. In Brent we celebrate our pluralism. By doing so we strengthen the bonds of our community."

Mr Gardiner said immigrants have settled in Brent for more than 60 years and have helped build its community - including constructing buildings, staffing its health service and operating public transport. He added:

"All came to Brent in search of security and prosperity. They did not all share the same history, but for the most part they shared a common experience.

They had been victims of poverty, intolerance and often violence. They had experienced prejudice and fear and they were determined that their children should not."