Multiculturalism speech wins Cameron few friends

David Cameron's speech yesterday in which he decried Britain's failed attempts at state-sponsored multiculturalism has provoked a storm of controversy. In particular, the timing was badly off, according to critics, because it came on the same day that the openly Islamaphobic English Defence League held a major demonstration in Luton.

By arguing that Britain needs a stronger national identity in order to root out political extremism, the Prime Minister was playing into the hands of the EDL, according to his critics.

Politicians and community leaders, including prominent Muslim MP Sadiq Khan, Labour's shadow justice secretary, were outspoken in condemning the PM. Khan accused him of "writing propaganda for the EDL", prompting a demand for a retraction from Tory co-chairman Baroness Warsi, who accused Labour of mounting a "smear campaign".

Less controversial were Cameron's remarks that no one who lives in the UK should be ambiguous about British values such as equality between sexes, democracy and integration. To belong in Britain is to believe in these values, he added.

Cameron blamed the last Labour government for muddled thinking and for backing a state-sponsored form of multiculturalism which led to a situation where "some organisations that seek to present themselves as a gateway to the Muslim community are showered with public money while doing little to combat extremism".

While most newspapers seemed to think the PM got at least part of what he said right, few felt able to praise his remarks roundly.

WHAT THE PAPERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE SPEECH:

• Editorial, Observer: "It was sad and predictable that Mr Cameron's words were quickly hailed by the far right, anti-Muslim English Defence League, which held a rally in Luton yesterday. Any speech that heartens the fascist fringe must be deemed a failure."

• Editorial, Mail on Sunday: "Tackling extremism is laudable and necessary. But one of the deep causes of discontent in this country is that, by dissolving our identity, we have left migrants and their British-born children with nothing to believe in, no nation to join or be proud of... This is a good beginning but it needs to be bolder to succeed.""

• Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed, Independent on Sunday: "David Cameron's recognition that we should acknowledge the dangers of extremist ideology ... is welcome. But by identifying the root cause of terrorism as ... 'state multiculturalism', Cameron reveals his understanding of the problem is as simplistic as his predecessors'."

• Nile Gardiner, Sunday Telegraph: "This was a bold speech by the Prime Minister amidst an increasingly stifling culture of political correctness. The fact it has already been condemned by critics on the Left is a healthy sign that he was absolutely right to give it. David Cameron has thrown down the gauntlet to the Islamists and their apologists."

• Margaret Hodge, former Labour minister: "The state has to be very cautious in using its power to mould cultural values. It is not merely the Muslim community's responsibility to combat extremism; we all have responsibilities, particularly to ensure that minority communities do not feel excluded."

• Editorial, Sunday Telegraph: "The alienation of many young British Muslims goes deep — they are cut off from wider society and despise it enough to want to harm it. Mr Cameron talks about standing for a broader and more generous version of citizenship'. These are fine words, but he does not say how it will be achieved." ·