... comes from Labour NEC member and commissioner for the Commission of Racial Equality, Shahid Malik, speaking to PA news as David Blunkett calls on immigrants to adopt "British norms of acceptability".

"Mr Blunkett is showing a distinct lack of understanding. I have no doubt that there's many fascists and racists and members of the BNP who will perversely draw comfort from his comments and view them as some sort of green light.

"I know that's not what Mr Blunkett intended and I hope he will clarify his views and put them in a more appropriate context.

"His comments were incomprehensible. I found them disturbing. The examples he gave are frowned upon by the Asian community. It all seems so negative and yet there's so many positives. There are lots of integration that does take place and these positive points fail to be highlighted.

"Mr Blunkett has stated that he accepts that we need to be sensitive rather than politically correct and in that context his comments are unfortunate because they will be seen by many as insensitive and less than helpful. Sensational stereotypes about under 16s being whisked to the Indian sub-continent to be forced into marriage not only fail to add to a sophisticated debate about social cohesion but, worse still, they reinforce false and negative racist stereotypes. The fact is that I have never in my entire life come across anybody in the Asian community who is in favour of forced marriages."