David Blunkett has repeated calls for a national debate on citizenship following last summer's riots in northern towns.

"Too many of our towns and cities lack any sense of civic identity or shared values," he told a Birmingham audience.

Responding to a series of reports into racial violence in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford, the home secretary argued a public debate on citizenship is "vital" to overcome the blight of racial segregation.

He said young people should lead the debate about how to bring down barriers. "Young people, in particular, are alienated and disengaged from much of the society around them, including the leadership of their communities," he said.

Blunkett defended his controversial call for ethnic minorities to "feel British" and embrace UK "norms of acceptability".

"People should have the wherewithal, such as the ability to speak English, to participate fully in society," he said. "This is not 'linguistic colonialism' as my critics allege - it is about opportunity and inclusion."

The focus on citizenship is also taken up by the Cantle report, which goes further than Blunkett with its call for an oath of allegiance for immigrants to show their "clear primary loyalty'' to Britain.

The report agrees with the home secretary that it is "essential to agree some common elements of nationhood".

"A meaningful 'concept of citizenship' needs establishing and championing which recognises the contribution of all cultures to this nation's development throughout its history, but establishes a clear, primary loyalty to this nation," it said.

Blunkett denied that measures to ensure that immigrants speak English or that cultural practices such as enforced marriage are eliminated would lead to "conformity".

"This is not cultural conformity. There is no contradiction between retaining a distinct cultural identity and identifying with Britain," he said.