I am delighted to extend CWU support to the Labour Friends of Bangladesh.
Thanks to Howard Dawber - your Chair - and thanks to CWU member, Syed Abul Bashar, who is membership secretary and trade union liaison officer for Labour Friends.
The CWU celebrates the multicultural nature of our nation.
We strongly believe that the Labour Party benefits from the self-organisation of activists of Bangladeshi origin.
Your unique voice helps the whole movement develop better solutions to our common problems.
In recent years we have seen serious attacks upon our multicultural society - in both words and deeds.
At Munich, David Cameron said that” State sponsored multiculturalism has failed”.
Tory support had begun to decline in the opinion polls. So Cameron engaged in some barely concealed pandering to racism.
Yet multiculturalism remains a great productive force in our society and economy. It is the exchange of experience and ideas that renews us all.
Britain is stronger because it is diverse.
If Cameron attacks multiculturalism in his words, then the BNP and EDL are attacking it in deeds.
These fascists and racists believe that there is no place for Muslims in Britain or Europe.
Islamaphiobia - as Baroness Warsi pointed out - has been made respectable in polite society.
The EDL and BNP have taken this further by physically attacking Muslims and the Muslin community.
In opposing these thugs, the CWU is proud to have stood alongside the Muslim community in Bradford, Luton, Tower Hamlets, Walthamstow and many other places.
We are active in Unite Against Fascism and believe we must continue to work together in opposing the EDL.
These are tough times. But in such times you find out who your real friends and allies are.
The CWU will always be happy to support the Bangladeshi community, and the Muslim community.
Thanks for listening
