Cameron’s approach to “British values” is outdated and divisive | openDemocracy

"Cameron clearly does not understand that identity politics in the UK are often divisive and politically unrewarding. Such speeches may be grounded in genuine concern about social cohesion and the potential of violent extremism. But they often merely feed bigotry for those who seek to conflate extremist Islam and Islam as a religion...His linking of extremism with immigration potentially re-demonises the Muslim community at a time when tensions were slowly subsiding... his speech was ill-judged, poorly-timed and indicates a lack of political maturity. Moreover, it ultimately contradicted his own thesis that a common Britishness is developmental, organic and should not be manipulated by the state. It will do little more than stimulate inter-community tensions without providing any sustainable solutions to the issues of violent extremism"