Muslim veil debate 'encouraging extremism'

| Thursday, 19 October 2006 Source: Press Association

Labour's Jon Cruddas warned that Muslims were in danger of feeling "hunted down" by the recent debate over the veil.

Mr Cruddas, a former Downing Street adviser, warned senior colleagues not to push voters into the arms of extremists by focusing on "religious symbols" as he launched his deputy leadership campaign.

The Dagenham MP, who has close trade union links, urged fellow politicians to focus instead on serious social and economic issues.

Launching his campaign yesterday at Dagenham Redbridge FC in east London, he said extremists needed to be tackled by dealing with a "sense of insecurity" over jobs and economic conditions rather than a shift to the right.

He said the current debate around veils was "actually entrenching insecurity and breaking down community cohesion".

He added: "We have to get politicians to stand up and say, 'No, we are not going to pander to this great right-wing show'."

His speech was met with a standing ovation from an audience of party and union activists.

Asked by the Press Association about the veil debate, he said:

"Politicians have got to get into territories which push extremists to the extreme margins.

"You do that by dealing with the real economic and social issues around housing, public services and labour markets.

"Just to be preoccupied with symbolism of religions is I think pushing people to the extremes."

He said that as a Catholic, if the debate had been around a crucifix he "would feel hunted down".

Mr Cruddas, 44, is pledging to reconnect with Labour Party members.

He plans to spend the next few months travelling the country to engage with the party's grass roots.

He has said that if he wins the election he does not want to take on the job of Deputy Prime Minister but instead act as link between leadership and party.

His campaign team plan to use the internet and emails to communicate directly with party members and plan to travel to the US for campaign advice from Democrats.

They will post film excerpts from yesterday's speech on internet video site YouTube.

Mr Cruddas stressed the importance of fighting the British National Party, saying it planned to target east London voters.