Jack Straw singles out Asian women

LONDON: Jack Straw, Leader of the House of Commons, has again waded into troubled waters by singling out Asian women wanting to settle in the UK and insisting that they learn how to speak English before they are given permission.

Straw, former Foreign Secretary, said an immigration procedure that necessitated speaking the language was “one of the things we should be looking at” to foster Asian women’s integration into wider society. Last month, the Commission on Integration and Cohesion set up by the Communities minister Ruth Kelly said that men and women arriving in Britain as well as spouses of those already here should be tested on their mastery of English before being given a visa.

Speaking at a conference in Blackburn, Straw concurred with the idea. “We should be looking at the subject of Asian women speaking English and whether we need to engage them and require them to speak English before they are given a settlement visa,” said Straw.

Critics have come down heavily on the former foreign minister arguing it is unfair and racist of him to single out Asian women. “I agree it is important that people speak the language, but why is he singling out people who come from India and Pakistan. We also have Poles here not speaking English,” said Yusuf Jan Virmani, a Blackburn councillor.

In recent years, migration from Eastern European countries has outstripped those immigrants coming from the Indian sub-continent. “Go to any restaurant in London and you will be served by a European who has come here to work and does not speak a word of English. Why hasn’t Straw thought of integrating them,” said Jay Thakkar, a financial consultant.

In fact, many argue that immigrants from South Asia are already into the second and third generations, all of whom are born and bred in Britain and speak English as well as their white countrymen. Even newer migrants are more educated and skilled and already speak English well having learnt it back home. “It is only the elderly who come to join their children here who may not be able to speak English, but does that really matter. After all how much integrating do they need to do?” asked Thakkar.

Straw had sparked in a major controversy last Autumn by arguing that Muslim women should not be allowed to wear a veil in public places. “Straw really doesn’t know Asian women at all and is relying on caricatures. Does he not know that dressing in traditional clothes doesn’t automatically mean they can’t speak English? He should get to know the community which votes for him properly,” said Sabina Begum, a pharmacist.