Straw should hide his face in shame

What's more despicable than a foreign secretary who takes us into an illegal war and then tries to distance himself from it for electoral reasons? What about a former foreign secretary who attacks Muslim women wearing the veil for electoral reasons?

Jack Straw has added his unwelcome voice to the bidding war over who can make the most headlines by attacking Muslims. He had a hard act to follow with John Reid, whose bid for the Labour leadership is based on ratcheting up the attacks on civil liberties and on the Muslim community.

Even David Cameron at the Tory conference, oh so liberal on gay marriages, doesn't think there should be Muslim only 'parallel' areas (actually there aren't), and that Muslim schools should accept one quarter non Muslims, in the name of ...well, in the name of not being exclusively Muslim. Next they'll be saying mosques should reserve places for non Muslims as well.

With this political background, I'm not surprised that a Muslim owned dairy in Windsor has been attacked by thugs. When the main political representatives in the country declare that it's open season on Muslims, no wonder those who want to attack them see it as a green light.

Let's examine this argument a minute. Jack Straw has told Muslim women who wear veils that they should take them off ...in the interests of getting a good look at their mouths and noses. When Jack Straw went on the Today programme today we couldn't see his face but his odious message was all too comprehensible.

Surely rather than attacking the victims of racism, the government should be defending them. It is up to the women themselves to choose what they wear and when they wear it. If Muslim women in veils are good enough to vote for Jack Straw, they are good enough to speak to, however they are dressed.

The difference between the government attitude today and five years ago is palpable. Then, government spokespeople went out of their way to attack the scapegoating of Muslims and to preach race harmony. Five years, three wars and two military occupations later, the last refuge of these scoundrels is to scapegoat Muslims for the consequences of the war.

Jack Straw should cover his face in shame.