The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Clegg breaks with Cameron on multiculturalism

Speaking in Luton, the Deputy Prime Minister endorses multiculturalism and rejects Cameron's depiction of it.

By Samira Shackle Published 03 March 2011 18:30

Nick Clegg has split from David Cameron in his definition of multiculturalism.

The Deputy Prime Minister gave a speech today in Luton -- a symbolic location, given that when Cameron spoke on the same subject in Munich last month, an English Defence League rally took place in the town.

Where Cameron was pessimistic and critical about multiculturalism -- prompting Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan to accuse him of "writing propaganda for the EDL" -- Clegg is positive, and advocates engagement.

It is a significant break in opinion, and while Clegg was careful to signal points of agreement with Cameron throughout the speech, it frequently reads like a direct answer to the PM's points. Over at ConservativeHome, Paul Goodman expresses concern about Clegg's timing in stoking media speculation about a division in the coalition. However, a little disapproval from the Tories is probably no bad thing for Clegg, who needs to shore up support from Lib Dems. Paul Waugh notes that many Tories will see this speech as based not just on principle, but on "the practical need of the Lib Dems to shore up their ethnic vote".

Let's compare and contrast the key points.

On multiculturalism

Cameron:

Under the doctrine of state multiculturalism, we have encouraged different cultures to live separate lives, apart from each other and the mainstream. We have failed to provide a vision of society to which they feel they want to belong. We have even tolerated these segregated communities behaving in ways that run counter to our values.

Clegg:

For me, multiculturalism has to seen as a process by which people respect and communicate with each other, rather than build walls between each other. Welcoming diversity but resisting division: that's the kind of multiculturalism of an open, confident society.

On the nature of the threat

Cameron:

It's important to stress that terrorism is not linked exclusively to any one religion or ethnic group...

Nevertheless, we should acknowledge that this threat comes overwhelmingly from young men who follow a completely perverse and warped interpretation of Islam and who are prepared to blow themselves up and kill their fellow citizens.

Clegg:

My point is this. We need a perfect symmetry in our response to crime and violent extremism. Bigots are bigots, whatever the colour of their skin. Criminals are criminals, whatever their political beliefs. Terrorists are terrorists, whatever their religion.

On banning organisations

Cameron:

We must ban preachers of hate from coming to our countries. We must also proscribe organisations that incite terrorism - against people at home and abroad. Governments must also be shrewder in dealing with those that, while not violent, are certainly, in some cases, part of the problem. We need to think much harder about who it's in the public interest to work with

Clegg:

You don't win a fight by leaving the ring. You get in and win. The overwhelming majority of the people attending this conference are active, engaged and law-abiding citizens. We don't win people to liberal ideals by giving ourselves a leave of absence from the argument.

Equally, smart engagement means being extremely careful about decisions to proscribe individual organisations. There are occasions when that is the right course of action. I have to say that, for me, agreeing to the proscription of the Pakistani Taliban was a straightforward decision. But proscription must always be a last resort, never a knee-jerk reflex.

On liberalism

Cameron:

Frankly, we need a lot less of the passive tolerance of recent years and much more active, muscular liberalism. A passively tolerant society says to its citizens: as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone. It stands neutral between different values. A genuinely liberal country does much more.

Clegg:

In an open, liberal society, individuals are free to live in the manner of their choosing, so long as they do not harm others.

More from Samira Shackle

14 comments

Sat, 2011-03-05 14:08 — hamid ali khurram (not verified)

There is alot to say about the advantages and disadvantages of multiculturalism but i wouid like to mention only one thing here that if u will not allow the people to to live in between u according to there wishes then how can u teach other tolerance.

Sat, 2011-03-05 15:17 — Larry Davies (not verified)

Nick Clegg doesn't deserve all the vitriol directed at him. And this is from a Labour supporter. He is a genuine progressive, though an unfortuitous concomitance events meant that he formed a coalition with the Conservatives instead of us. Labour should be more pluralistic: we should recognise the congruence in values and principles of us and the Liberals

Fri, 2011-03-04 06:11 — Mark (not verified)

Well Clegg would endorse it ! maybe it had something to do with the fact he was in Luton and Cameron made his speech in Munich ( slight difference in the ethnicity of the cities ) and of course after Cameroons speech they don't want upset any more people . The idea is to live in peace and happiness , share or cultures and values equally , without interference from the State and live happily ever after !!!

Fri, 2011-03-04 09:09 — ang (not verified)

@NS.
hnhm89 is taking the piss, can't you block them?

Fri, 2011-03-04 09:50 — gerry (not verified)

Nick Clegg, in this speech, is really openly making a play for the votes of extremist Muslims, who he knows are a growing percentage of the UK population...his party did this in many constituencies in May 2010, with varying success, using their opposition to the iraq war, their rejection of a war on terror, and their support for Guantanamo bay suspects...

On the one hand, it is good I suppose that we have a mainstream party which openly embraces the validity of islamic extremism, and of value-free multiculturalism..but somehow I dont think the bearded men in madrassahs and burkaed women will be fully won over, as other lib dem positions - eg on Afghanistan - are just not extreme enough for them.

On the other hand, by making islamic extremism and islamism appear a respectable and valid ideology, Clegg and the Lib Dems remind us all that their party can never be relied on to genuinely oppose fascism and totalitarianism, when it comes as it does here, cloaked in religion's clothes.

Sat, 2011-03-05 03:36 — Canadianmike (not verified)

If only "When in Rome...",

Multiculturalism is great, as long as each group who is part of the "multi" realizes that there is a greater overarching 'culture' into which they are contributing.

The only problem with multiculturalism is when it fails to protect the dominant culture of it's host society.

After all, why did they (or you!) immigrate if it wasn't for a better way of life (culture)?

Thu, 2011-03-03 19:12 — AS Powar (not verified)

Is someone at the Newstatesman getting paid for writing this stuff?

Where's the analysis or break down of the different positions?

Both Clegg and Cameron say nothing substantive about multiculturalism, or about how to work for a more pragmatic multiculturalism, which can hope to mitigate the multifarious problems society is facing. The loss of civility, respect and toleration is a symptom of greater dislocation from British society and culture, because there is no move to explicitly remind people and celebrate what British values and culture is and ought to be for the times we are living in. Cultural values, norms and so on are not constants. Britain needs to lead from the front, paternally, through constant debate and discussion regarding what we stand for and why.

The objectives for multiculturalism can be spelt out clearly:

1) Diverse cultures in the UK need to be respected in social, political and economic culture at large; in return each culture has to respect any other culture, and culture at large in an open-minded, tolerant way, even learning actively about other cultures, be it English, Scottish, Jamaican . . .

2)People regardless of background should be given the opportunity to flourish in society, through education, sport and so on - this is a problem for all not just individual cultures. A better educated society, means a society better equipped to understand, avoid confusion, wrong-headedness; with a capacity for change and many other important attributes can be nurtured as well.

3)Government needs to facilitate a common culture that genuinely engenders tolerance, openness, inclusiveness, civility . . . Britain is a closed society in many respects. Where I live, it is not a genuine ambition for anyone to seek to be a politician, someone of influence . . . these are regarded as, and are, positions of exclusive privilege. If you want to fight to get into such a position, it is by all means possible, but looking at say the Asians in the conservative party, they are merely Faustian fall-guys; they say what other politicians would not feel legitimate saying, and in saying it they legitimise unreasonable views. These people do not represent a multicultural Britain; those Asians in the conservative party, behave and speak in way that is acceptable for them to hold a position in the conservative party, and that's all. They do not sound sincere.

We need real voices in this debate not proxy voices, willing to pussy foot around the long bedded status quo.

Thu, 2011-03-03 19:13 — madasbalooons (not verified)

I agree with......................

Thu, 2011-03-03 19:17 — ldagnall

Personally, I interpret Cameron as endorsing multiculturalism - just a different form of multiculturalism to Clegg.

Thu, 2011-03-03 19:25 — Ricardo1

Tories can hardly complain about the timing of a multiculturalism speech!!

Sun, 2011-03-06 23:30 — Ivan Miletitch

Who give a xxxx about what Clegg thinks nowdays ?...He is the head of a party which just lost their deposit in Barnsley.... share of the voye now...ZERO, near enough, Cameron will dump him soon enough & all that will be left for Clegg will be to join the Tories ....

Thu, 2011-03-03 20:21 — ang (not verified)

Clegg is just trying to dig himself out of a hole.