BRITAIN must have an open debate on how to unite different ethnic groups and cultures in order to try to avoid a repeat of the London bombings, Cabinet minister Ruth Kelly said today.
She said the United Kingdom faced an unprecedented challenge to its record on uniting different racial and cultural groups.
And the Communities Secretary said society must do more to tackle branches of extremism that could split the nation. Launc
hing the government's Commission on Integration and Cohesion, announced in the wake of last July's London bombings, Mrs Kelly called for an open debate on whether "multiculturalism" had helped unite society or contributed to segregation and division.
The new Commission, which will start work in September with a tour of the UK, will look in particular at how to bring people together in schools and avoid ethnic and religious segregation at classroom level.
The Commission will examine how different towns, cities and communities challenge issues like segregation and social and economic divisions.
But it will also look closely at the fight against extremist ideas amid concerns expressed by some Muslim leaders that they don't receive enough help in combating the growth of radical ideas and the work of radical preachers.
Mrs Kelly was today saying the UK had a long track record on integrating minorities but the current problems with terrorism had heightened tensions in some areas. She said that the creation of her department and the Cabinet reshuffle in May signalled the Government's commitment to knitting together a highly diverse modern Britain.
