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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Straw in Blackburn after veil row | Straw in Blackburn after veil row |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Jack Straw has met constituents for the first time since claiming that the covered faces of Muslim women can make community relations more difficult. | Jack Straw has met constituents for the first time since claiming that the covered faces of Muslim women can make community relations more difficult. |
| The Commons leader sparked a row by saying that when women wear veils to his Blackburn office, he asks if they would show their noses and mouths. | The Commons leader sparked a row by saying that when women wear veils to his Blackburn office, he asks if they would show their noses and mouths. |
| He told reporters he was surprised at the debate it had provoked, but hoped it would benefit all communities. | He told reporters he was surprised at the debate it had provoked, but hoped it would benefit all communities. |
| He was applauded outside the town hall, but a protest is expected on Saturday. | He was applauded outside the town hall, but a protest is expected on Saturday. |
| Mr Straw had said he felt full-face veils were a "visible statement of separation" - and was criticised by some Muslim groups. | Mr Straw had said he felt full-face veils were a "visible statement of separation" - and was criticised by some Muslim groups. |
| The article sparked quite a bigger debate than I anticipated which left me surprised Jack Straw href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6048896.stm" class="">Cheers and boos in Blackburn | |
| Speaking in Blackburn, which is about 30% Muslim, on Friday, he said he stuck by his comments and had held two meetings with local councillors and representatives of the Lancashire Council of Mosques. | Speaking in Blackburn, which is about 30% Muslim, on Friday, he said he stuck by his comments and had held two meetings with local councillors and representatives of the Lancashire Council of Mosques. |
| "No-one today challenged my right to say what I did. This town is a big village, a large rumbustious family," he said. | "No-one today challenged my right to say what I did. This town is a big village, a large rumbustious family," he said. |
| "We have been working very hard in this multi-religious town to build on the achievements of the past and for the future." | "We have been working very hard in this multi-religious town to build on the achievements of the past and for the future." |
| The former foreign secretary added: "The article sparked quite a bigger debate than I anticipated which left me surprised. But it sparked off concern about parallel communities. | The former foreign secretary added: "The article sparked quite a bigger debate than I anticipated which left me surprised. But it sparked off concern about parallel communities. |
| "We have to face up to the difficult challenge of achieving a greater understanding of different cultures." | "We have to face up to the difficult challenge of achieving a greater understanding of different cultures." |
| Straw applauded | Straw applauded |
| When the MP left the press conference, he received a round of applause and cheers from people gathered outside. | When the MP left the press conference, he received a round of applause and cheers from people gathered outside. |
| But a demonstration is planned outside his Saturday morning surgery at Bangor Street Community Centre. | But a demonstration is planned outside his Saturday morning surgery at Bangor Street Community Centre. |
| Mr Straw has been backed by Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown in his right to raise the debate. | Mr Straw has been backed by Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown in his right to raise the debate. |
| And the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, Trevor Phillips, has claimed the way he did it was "completely right". | And the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, Trevor Phillips, has claimed the way he did it was "completely right". |
| But the Islamic Human Rights Commission argued the MP was "selectively discriminating". | But the Islamic Human Rights Commission argued the MP was "selectively discriminating". |