Well said! Good to hear a senior Muslim figure talking such common sense.

Andrew Brown, derby, UK

Good Lord

There are Politicians who are not completely devoid of common sense......

Well

There is at least 1 we can be sure of for now

Others please come forth and be counted.

Obi Mgbatogu, London, UK

As a British Muslim, I am pleased with Baroness Warsi's comments. Two fingers up to political correctness. Whilst we still live in an inequality society, I'm happy to push for equality on the basis of meritocracy and pluralism.

Khaled Shivji, London, UK

The debate about Britishness is at cross-purposes. For most 'indigenous' people in the UK, 'Britishness' is about the union of the four countries England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is very much under strain, especially in Scotland. Some, including Gordon Brown are trying to re-define Britishness as multi-culturism. I am not sure that this is going to fly

Richard, Bexhill, UK

Well said Ms Warsi, your comments on 'multiculturalism' are right on the mark.

Peter , Hermitage, UK

Makes me laugh that the people commenting
on this article and advocating Asians standing up and
being counted are so reluctant to leave even their
surnames?

Gareth Roberts, Birmingham,

Fine words - now lets see the leaders of the moslem community actually do something about it instead of meekly standing by while their 'peaceful' religion is controlled by the evil fundamentalists in their midst. Personally I'm not holding my breath waiting for this to ever happen.

Jay, London,

At last a leader from within the Muslim community speaking for the majority of us Muslims who are proud to be British and grateful for being part of one of the most tolerant and just societies in the whole world. Thank you.

shaf, London , England

Hurray !!!. First of all the Archbishop of York and now this. People in high office speaking common sense ! Are you listening Gordon ?

pete, Hull,

I think the media help perpetuate Muslims as victims - On TV news last week there was an item about extending questioning time for suspected terrorists and instantly a Muslim was wheeled on to give their opinion. Other groups must also have their opinions but no Muslims are the only one consulted. It does start getting very one-sided after a while.
Why do we have to start apologising for Christmas? Hindus don't apologise for Diwali in case it offends other religions. This endless obsession with apologising.

carole, London, UK

I agree with the peerage st 36 being questionable-but then just what is the House of Lords about as an Institution since Blair wrecked it for his own ends? Nobody knows .However Sayeeda's comments are refreshing and overdue particularly coming from a female ,Muslim source. Too often it is the bearded, turbaned male conservatives who dominate the represenation of Islam in Britain or even the male apologist MCB spokesman who so often plays the victim card . Sayeeda's notion of national identity and cohesion is so refreshing compared to Gordon's failed multicultural nonesense his 'American flag model' and his slogan that represents Britain -how parthetic and insulting can you get?

david, Uzes, france

Thank-you Ms.Warsi.

Until recently I thought that multiculturalism meant that people living in Britain were free to practise their customs and religion - fine by me.

I didn't realise that tax-payers money was being spent to ensure that different ethnic groups remained different rather than finding common ground; thus denying the possiblility of the development any kind of social cohesion or sense of Britishness.

What a moronic and dangerous state of affairs!

Patricia, Ipswich,

Lady Warsi is extremely perceptive and articulate for a 36 year old.
More's the pity we have no American equivalent in our Muslim communities who can express so clearly the distinction between dubious cultural values ,and religious edict and dogma.
It's time for Lady Warsi to be on Oprah .!

w knight, orange county, usa /california

D Case, Newquay - unfortunately, most of them will take off back to Scotland, which will go its own way, and where - Glasgow excepted - multi-culturism isn't even on the radar screen. And us English will be left with the mess

Richard, Bexhill, UK

Lady Warsi is a very sensible girl. We need to learn to respect our differences not all be labelled the same. The subtleties of what makes a good society has completely escaped Labour. Instead of raising the game, Labour has brought us all down to their level.They seem to think that what we can't say, we can't do....they don't know much, do they?

judy, Liverpool, england

I like what Lady Wasti says, she seems to speak sense however what I would like for her to do is not pretend to be a spokewomen for the British Muslims but rather a mainstream politican. Could I ask her when she met that Dictator in Sudan did she ask him to explain the death of the two million people that he has killed......all life is important...maybe some good can come out of her and Lord Ahmeds visit.....I very much hope that in my lifetime we have a world which is full of peace and in which all peoploe both of faith and no faith can live side by side....( Nesar Rafiq, former Chair Wakefield District Partnership Cohesion Advisory Group)

NESAR RAFIQ, WAKEFIELD, WEST YORKSHIRE

Wow! the most sense I've ever heard on this subject.

Cirep G Nol, London,

Sayeeda Warsi has spoken good common sense, but unfortunately her stance is not inherent to Islam. The sad fact is that Islam as a whole seldom applies her principles as a matter of general consensus. It requires a force outside Islam.

Turkey is the prime example of this. There, her principles prevail - but only because they are guaranteed by the Turkish army. And even in Turkey there is no guarantee that Islam will not eventually displace the army.

Herbert Thornton, Victoria, Canada

Thank Heavens (if that is allowable) for some common sense and demand for all round tolerance of the beliefs of anyone.
When we have an exPrime Minister who states that he could not admit his religious beliefs when in office because he would have be thouht to be a "nutter" the misconceptions held by some of those in high office become evident.
In any case I thought that one professed ones religion as part of those beliefs not hid them away for personal agrandoisment.
We are free to believe in anything that does not harm others. and a Happy Christmas to you all

John, Waterlooville, U.K.

So refreshing to read how a open minded Muslim see Britain today. I am in total agreement regarding the failures of multiculturalism as a concept. Like so much that this failed Labour government has gotten wrong and must rank as one of their greatest blunders.
My experience of ten years of having this government banging on about what a wonderful thing multiculturalism is and how lucky we are to live in such a diverse society has turned me from a tolerant person who hated racism to the now totally opposite. How many others must now feel as I now do? I once argued with anyone, and there were many arguments, that racism is wrong but alas not any more and I wish more than anything else that I could turn back the clock to a time when this country was not over-run by foreigners. Even here in Cornwall there are so many foreign accents. I don't feel This is my country any longer. What has this stupid government done to the Britain I once knew and loved?

D Case, Newquay,

Finally an educated Muslim speaks up for the millions of us who are not extremists. She is absolutely right. Muslims need to stand up and be counted and show that extremists do not speak or act in our name. We are proud to be British and living in this country.

S, London, UK

Here are six words Mr Brown might like to consider for his motto; 'Britain- Where minority rule the majority'.

Rob, Liverpool, UK

What a breath of super fresh air this lady is. We could do with some many more like her in our country.

Terry Harris, Brightn, UK

HURRAY !! After a decade of being ordered by New Labour to
' celebrate the rich multicural, multiracial diversity ' , FINALLY the realisation that these policies are an abject failure. They have created discord, disunity and segregation. Of course everyone has the right to their own personal, individual set of beliefs and should be permitted to put them into practice as long as they are lawful, at the same time, we all have the responsibility to exist and live together in harmony, showing mutual respect to our fellow man even if we disagree with one another.
Under this government we have been warned not to question their policies and this has led to resentment and suspicion. Thank God we may be allowed to question some of the daft orders given to us by this numskull, obsessively politically correct government without automatically being branded a racist.

Rick, London , England

Who made her a peer and why? I thought the knighthoods were earnt after a lifetime of service to the country. How is that possible at the age of 36?

Ben Parish, London, Kent

What good sense Ms Wardi speaks. God save us from the Gordon and his acolytes - social engineers without a proper building plan ( or engineering degree!)

John, London, UK

Hear, hear! At last, someone with an ounce of common sense talking about the ridiculous notions that face our country today courtesy of political correctness. I'm not a Christian, or a Muslim for that matter. But by jove, bring on Christmas and let's enjoy it rather than get hung up on its name!

M K, Nottingham, UK

What an intelligent learned Lady who really understands the issues. She has put the hollow Gordon Bean in the shade. His initiatives and vision for everything are just jibberish.

G Davies, cardiff, wales

Brilliant!! Sayeeda Warsi has put forward the most valuable, most interesting and most challenging argument to have come from any politician in a decade.
Ironically she also defines Britishness in words perfectly for me, despite her modesty in saying it cannot be done.
I think it also gives Gordon his 6-word motto to encapsulate Britishness; "'What Baroness Warsi says it is". Or "Britishness cannot be put into words". Even better would be "The opposite of what Gordon thinks"

Mohammed Baroud, basingstoke, hants