Charles Clarke joins Muslim veil row


16 November 2006 08:56

Commons leader Jack Straw has been the subject of a hard-hitting attack by former home secretary Charles Clarke for starting the national debate on the wearing of the full veil by Muslim women.

Mr Clarke accused his ex-cabinet colleague last night of “grandstanding” and of launching a discussion that had had an almost completely negative effect.

Speaking at the Royal Commonwealth Society in London, the Norwich MP pointedly complained that what he dubbed the “Great British Veil Controversy” had been “started by Jack Straw in his local Blackburn paper”.

It “has been almost entirely negative in its impact and has done nothing to promote tolerance and understanding in our society”, he continued. “Building respect in our society means more common sense and less grandstanding from everyone”.

Voicing such explicit censure of a senior cabinet figure - and another former home secretary - is bound to raise eyebrows again at Westminster about the outspoken behaviour of Mr Clarke since he lost his position as home secretary in May.

In September, when Tony Blair came under pressure to announce his retirement date - and seemed to be facing a Labour coup - Mr Clarke pitched into Gordon Brown, saying he could have stopped the plotting with a click of his fingers, and accusing him of being a control-freak with psychological issues who couldn't work with cabinet colleagues. But he has since regretted making the comments, and said he expects to vote for the chancellor as the next Labour leader.

In last night's speech Mr Clarke - a former education secretary - also denounced “the current unease about faith schools”, saying it was “destructive, damaging and often based upon ignorance about what is actually taught” in them.

“Faith schools of all denominations are rightly required to, and do, teach the national curriculum”, he said. “In general faith schools perform relatively well educationally, I believe because the ethos and commitment of these schools is generally good.”

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