REMARKS BY THE HOME SECRETARY ON ETHNIC MINORITIES AND NATIONAL IDENTITY

Early day motion 539, tabled 10 December 2001 by Annabelle Ewing (Scottish National Party). Signed by 13 members.

That this House deplores the remarks of the Home Secretary in talking of the need for members of ethnic minority communities to 'feel British' and even to 'feel and become English'; notes that these remarks have been described by Glasgow Labour councillor and President of the British Pakistani Association, Mr Bashir Mann, as being 'deeply offensive'; further notes that the recent British Social Attitudes Survey funds that only 13 per cent. of people in Scotland identify themselves as British, with 80 per cent. feeling Scottish, which means that his remarks are doubly offensive to Scotland; and celebrates the positive contribution of ethnic minority communities to Scotland's national life over many years.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 7, Scottish National Party 5, Plaid Cymru 1.