BISHOP OF LEICESTER'S GARDEN PARTY

At Bishop's Lodge, Springfield Road, this evening for the annual garden party hosted by the Bishop of Leicester. Bishop Tim holds this event at a similar time each year, extending his hospitality to members of his Faith Leaders Forum. This particular gathering is dedicated to celebrating the 25th anniversary of the founding of Leicester Council of Faiths. This has meant that many people who are not normally invited to attend the Faith Leaders Forum have been asked here this evening. Representatives of the eight member communities which constitute the Council of Faiths are in attendance, as are friends and supporters, including those who don't identify with any particular faith - or, indeed, any faith at all.

After we've enjoyed some food together, Bishop Tim gives a welcoming address, in which he mentions the major events which have happened during his tenure: the millennium; 9/11; war in Afghanistan and Iraq; 7/7. All these events played their part in leading to the establishment of the Faith Leaders Forum and the St Philip's Centre for Study and Engagement in a Multi-Faith Society, both of which have strengthened the Diocese's presence in inter-faith engagement.

We hear a message from Dr Atta'ullah Siddiqui, former Chair of Leicester Council of Faiths, followed by a speech from Cllr Manjula Sood and current Chair. She recognises the endeavour of founding figures and early members of the Council of Faiths, some of whom are here, some of whom are now too old and inform to be present at this occasion, some of whom have passed away.

There's a convivial atmosphere with a lot of praise for the progress that the Council of Faiths has made over the last quarter of a century, as well as recognition of some of the big challenges ahead. Much confidence is expressed that the Council of Faiths will meet the tests of the future, as it has the tests of the past. Such confidence is all very well, but from my point of view, with my sleeves rolled up, doing the day-to-day work of the Council of Faiths, I'd have liked someone to acknowledge that our biggest challenge will be meeting those forthcoming tests with less funding, fewer committed members and potentially (and most damagingly) no staff. I would deny that that's lack of faith on my part. I don't believe that all those who have the opportunity to speak this evening are actually aware of the oncoming difficulties in terms of resourcing and sustaining the work of Leicester Council of Faiths.

In the photo above: The Right Revd Dr Tom Butler (the previous Bishop of Leicester), Kayhar Singh, Tony Nelson, Minou Cortazzi and Cllr Manjula Sood cut the 25th anniversary cake. I get a lovely corner bit, which has the best icing coverage.

CITY MAYOR GUEST AT FAITH LEADERS FORUM

Sir Peter Soulsby (Mayor of Leicester) with Gursharan Kaur Thandi (Sikh representative on Leicester Council of Faiths Board of Directors)

At Bishop's Lodge, Springfield Road, this evening for the annual Faith Leaders Forum garden party, hosted by the Bishop of Leicester. I arrive just as Smita Shah, President of Jain Samaj Europe and Treasurer of Leicester Council of Faiths is parking, so we enter together and are greeted by Mike Smith, Chaplain to Bishop Tim. Mike's been corresponding with me over the past week or so, coordinating efforts so that as many members of Leicester Council of Faiths as possible come to this evening's meeting.

Attendance at Faith Leaders Forum is normally by invitation from the Bishop's office. That doesn't normally include me. Nothing odd there, since I'm no one's idea of a "Faith Leader" (especially my own). I've attended only one of these meetings before this evening and that was back in January this year, when Noel Singh (of Leicestershire County Council) and I were invited to debrief attendees on National Inter Faith Week 2010 and to encourage them to start planning the same event later this year.

In fact, so confident was I that I wouldn't be attending this meeting that about a month ago I picked today as a good one to take off. I was going to go down to London, visit the Miro exhibition at Tate Modern and make a day of it. I rarely do such things but thought I could give myself a little treat for once. After paying for tickets for the exhibition (and train tickets too) this meeting was announced about a week later - and invitations were extended to all members of Leicester Council of Faiths and to me. Well, I couldn't say really no - could I, faithful reader?

What makes this meeting of special importance is that the guest of honour is Sir Peter Soulsby, first elected Mayor of Leicester. Not counting our host and special guest, there are 24 people in attendance, 13 of them members of Leicester Council of Faiths (plus me - I never count myself,  since I'm not a member but an employee). Seven out of our eight member faith communities are represented here this evening.

We enjoy a nice curry and the chance to chat round three big round tables arranged inside a gazebo pitched in the garden at the back of the lodge (food by Taste Inc.) I sit with Alex Keller, who has long represented the Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation on the Council of Faiths - and with whom I realised recently that I share a long-standing passion). It seems, though, that I may have nicked the Mayor's seat!

Around 1830, Bishop Tim calls us to order and introduces Sir Peter, who is taking the opportunity this evening to set out his vision for the city and to speak about partnership with the faith communities in helping make that vision reality.

In Sir Peter's interesting and pithy opening remarks, I note the following: how he values the diversity of the city; how is not complacent about the benefits of diversity that Leicester enjoys; how we may be said to have been uniquely protected from some of the winds that blow in other parts of the country thanks to friendships and relationships built up over many years; how he recognises the importance of working in partnership - and that one of the most significant kinds of partnership at work in Leicester is that between the local authorities and the city's faith communities.

Sir Peter takes questions and responds to comments on a range of topics from the assembled guests (and you'll note, I hope, that they cover more than what might be considered typical faith-related matters):

• on the so-called "Big Society" (setting aside political misgivings) - how to promote the kind of active citizenship that members of faith communities have practised so long and how to offer that as a model for action that the rest of the city can understand and accommodate.
• on his response to Leicester being highlighted as one of 25 priority areas in the Prevent Strategy - in which one community feels unfairly singled out while the rest feel unfairly left out.
• how he might address collective and historic inferiority complex in Leicester. Not just creating a vision for the future, but getting people to recognise, acknowledge and value what we have in Leicester here and now.

Other topics touched on this evening include the arts; social care for elderly and vulnerable people; inequality of wealth, of access to services, of life opportunities and even of life expectancy (which can vary by as much as 10 years between different parts of the city); youth unemployment; street crime; slow growth of business community; improvement in state education in Leicester.

Everyone appears to feel the benefit of this meeting and the hope is expressed on both sides that it's only the first of many such instances of dialogue between the Mayor and representatives of the faith communities.

The most sensitive issue raised this evening relates to the increasing number of anti-Semitic incidents raising tensions among and between certain communities. This part of the evening in particular would give the lie to any notion that what's going on here is a self-congratulatory, self-indulgent communal pat on the back. Some real contentious and difficult matters are tackled head-on. We can't just rest on our laurels, assuming that everything in Leicester is hunky-dory. The reality is that, for many people (and some communities) it's patently anything but. The quality of faith leadership creates secure space in which to discuss such issues and to prove that it's not possible to isolate and pick off one community or to set one community against another.

After the meeting, Sughra Ahmed, Suleman Nagdi, Tony Nelson and I stay behind for a quarter of an hour, discussing aspects of our planning and preparation for celebrating the 25th anniversary of Leicester Council of Faiths. Even in this short time of putting our heads together, several good ideas emerge.

In advance of the meeting, I was asked by Mike Smith (Policy Adviser and Chaplain to the Bishop of Leicester) who coordinates these meetings, whether there I would recommend anything that could be included in the conversation between the Mayor and the faith community groups this evening.

While I'm sure that Sir Peter will be receiving recommendations about everything under the sun, I was glad to be able to offer my personal thoughts, arising from my experience in this post. I asked that they should not be taken as representing official comments from Leicester Council of Faiths (although I hope that  officers and other members would not object to too many of them). In brief, then:

I think it's important to appreciate the different roles and functions of Leicester Council of Faiths, Faith Leaders Forum and St Philip's Centre for Study and Engagement in a Multi-Faith Society. These are mostly complementary, although occasionally they can bump into each other (which occurs mostly through lack of communication and coordination). Sometimes the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. The relative ages of the three agencies is an important factor. I don't think it's unfair to say that the existence of the Council of Faiths helped create the environment and circumstances where the other two could be established more easily. It could be said that both Faith Leaders Forum and St Philip's Centre are capitalising on long-standing work and relationships that have been channelled for a longer period of time through the Council of Faiths.

The relative disparity in resourcing these three agencies is an important issue and can't be ignored in the current climate. The Council of Faiths is entirely dependent on external funding, from the City Council and from a (very) small number of sources to whom we sell our services of consultancy, guidance and training. Although everyone could do with better funding, Leicester Council of Faiths exists on a shoestring compared to the resources that allow Faith Leaders Forum and St Philip's to function. I'd like to say that means we punch considerably above our weight - but, as you can imagine, faithful reader, that can be draining - if not downright exhausting at times (for me, in particular).

Although the Council of Faiths, Faith Leaders Forum and St Philip's Centre often involve the same faces, they fulfil different roles and functions at each one. And although many of the people who are Directors or members of Leicester Council of Faiths can be described as "Faith Leaders", our institution concerns itself with different levels of the faith communities, all the way down to the grass roots. We are often seen, and asked to play the role of gatekeeper - allowing entry into the communities by other appropriate agencies, such as the NHS. Because of the way my post has evolved in particular, it means that the Council of Faiths is much more directly involved with other "Protected Characteristics" as defined in the Equality Act 2010 and the groups and prominent individuals in the community working in relation to them.

One point which is often lost on these working at the centre of things in the Diocese, as "professional" people of faith: only the Council of Faiths offers a way of inter-faith working in Leicester that is not church-led or Christian-centred. Many of those who willingly give their time and effort to community cohesion work have to be persuaded that inter-faith dialogue and activity in our city is genuinely egalitarian and not a kind of colonialism in reverse on home soil. This perception and anxiety gives a certain flavour to inter-faith work that make it hard to swallow for some. The presence and activities of the Council of Faiths (in which no one faith community is seen or allowed to dominate) helps ameliorate that perception.

If I were asked to provide a soundbite, it would be this: "If Leicester Council of Faiths didn't exist, you'd have to invent it!" And if you did, it probably wouldn't look all that different from what we've got today.

Harmony that gives the lie to extremist tag

Here's the "First Person" column in today's Leicester Mercury. Before I got the chance to see the paper today, the text of this article was mailed around by Suleman Nagdi, spokesman for the Federation of Muslim Organisations. The author of the article, Luman Ali, is a community volunteer and PhD student.

Harmony that gives the lie to extremist tag

Luman Ali wonders why the city is considered a hotbed of Muslim militancy

Why Leicester? That is the question we are all asking after our city was designated as a hotbed of terrorism and worthy of being singled out for significant attention as part of the Government's new Prevent Strategy. What has Leicester done to warrant such concern and worry?

Is it the "One Leicester" campaign, which has brought together the various and diverse communities to celebrate our common humanity and our collaborative achievements, exemplified in the joyful festivities held in the city after the English Defence League demonstration? Is it the work done by the faith communities, in groups such as the Council of Faiths and Faith Leaders Forum, to create the means by which all the people of Leicester may live and work together in harmony and flourish in whatever endeavours they choose to pursue?

Is the launch of a recent Muslim Burial Council of Leicestershire book, "Discovering through Death – beliefs and practices", which was written with all faith and non-faith communities to examine how death is dealt with by all, an indicator that Leicester is a rampant hotbed of extremism? Moreover, does it worry the Government that representatives from all faith and non-faith groups came together for the launch of this book in an atmosphere of warmth and conviviality?

Is the Government worried about the way in which the various communities of Leicester came together last October to work with the police and local authority to combat the public disorder that was visited upon our great city? Is the Government concerned that the event passed with such minimal disruption that the strategies implemented by the police, local authority and various communities surrounding the event, have been used by other cities as a model of good practice?

If the Government is concerned about what has been noted here then it is pertinent to ask, why exactly have we been cited as a hotbed of extremism? Furthermore, if the inter-faith and community work that has been done in this city, work which has led to us being cited as a reference point for exemplary community work by other European cities, has not been enough to move Leicester away from being a hotbed of extremism, then what more can we do to help foster excellent community relations?

On our part we will continue to work with our partners to consolidate our strong relationship fostered through years of collaborative hard work. We also invite policy makers to view the work in Leicester to see why a church, Hindu Temple, mosque and synagogue stand yards apart in the Highfields area in peace and harmony. Why Leicester as a hotbed of extremism? No, the fact is "why not" Leicester.

Read this article, along with reader comments (and the opportunity to make your own) on the Leicester Mercury website: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Harmony-gives-lie-extremist-tag/story-12766987-detail/story.html

MUSLIMS ARE SEEKING HARMONY

The Leicester Mercury mailbox section today includes the following letter by Suleman Nagdi (photo above), on behalf of the Federation of Muslim Organisations. I yield to no one in my admiration and respect for Suleman - and his writing. Pity he doesn't mention Leicester Council of Faiths and its 25 years promoting better community relations in this piece though.

Dear Sir,

I respond to Father Leon Pereira's letter 9th February 2011 "state-sponsored multiculturalism breeds division".

Several points about integration were made without any discussion about what we are integrating to. Identities are complex, multiple and changing whichever part of the world you are from. Without a benchmark for integration, it makes no sense to identify one community as the problem when we know that many communities would also struggle to define what we are integrating to. There is sadly a growing culture of attacking without any efforts made to propose ways forward. It appears that the Prime Minister’s speech on multiculturalism did not reflect that the Muslim community is a community of communities with people from different backgrounds, nationalities and experiences. This is why Muslims have adapted over centuries to live in all corners of the globe. Without diversity Muslims would have been restricted to narrow geographical areas. Islam has interacted with the "West" for hundreds of years with its contribution to science leading to the European renaissance.

I trust that as a Catholic, Father Pereira should be aware of the Second Vatican Council "Nostra Aetate" which began a stronger push towards interfaith working. This was supplemented by "A Common Word" more recently which anchored the Muslim commitment to our Christian family. Father Pereira made a host of irresponsible remarks such as associating criminal acts committed by a few to the many. His comments on protests at funerals of soldiers and vandalising of war memorials ignores that Muslims constitute the second highest represented faith in the UK armed forces. Grooming and honour killings occur across numerous communities and must be rooted out. These are evil cultural practices with no basis in any faith. What we must not do is to convince ourselves that there is a "religious motivation" behind these crimes when they take place. If that is the case, Father Pereira would be fully aware of the controversies in the Catholic Church. I would much prefer a more mature and reasoned level of debate which does not stigmatise and stereotype entire faith community. We should avoid comparing the best of ours with the worst of others.

I would like to offer an invitation to Father Pereira to sample the how Muslims are building positive interfaith relationships in Leicester. The fact is that Muslims have a long and proud record of loyalty to Leicester and its interfaith ethos. The list of achievements are endless. Father Pereira could take part in our Christian-Muslim Charity Dinner, Imams vs Clergy sports, numerous dialogue groups or Mitzvah Day efforts. My experiences with my Christian brothers and sisters is one of tremendous respect. Not least through the Faith Leaders Forum chaired by our Bishop of Leicester. Rather than saying “state-sponsored multiculturalism breeds division”, I would say “communities-sponsored interfaith breeds harmony”.

Yours,

Suleman Nagdi MBE DL

Federation of Muslim Organisations

FAITH LEADERS FORUM

To Bishop's Lodge, Springfield Road, for a meeting of the Faith Leaders Forum, starting at 1800. I've been invited to attend specifically to contribute to the start of planning for Inter Faith Week, Sun 20 - Sat 26 November. Noel Singh (Policy Officer for Community Cohesion at Leicestershire County Council) has been invited for the same purpose.

Bishop Tim himself isn't present; the meeting is chaired by Richard Atkinson, Archdeacon of Leicester and Chair of Trustees at St Philip's Centre for Study and Engagement in a Multi-Faith Society (that's Richard on the left in photo above, along with Chief Inspector Rich Keenan, Leicestershire Constabulary; Dr John Hall, Director of Studies at St Philip's Centre; and Sheikh Ibrahim Moghra, Chair, Interfaith Committee, Muslim Council of Britain). Five of the city's faith communities are represented here this evening. I suppose I could be considered occupying a seat for a sixth, but I've not been invited here to represent the local Bahá'ís.

I've not been invited to one of these meetings before, so I find it helpful when another attendee asks Mike Smith (Policy Adviser and Chaplain to the Bishop of Leicester) briefly to describe the origin and purpose of this group. He explains how it's not constituted on a formal basis (like the Council of Faiths is, for example) which allows it to have a more free-ranging brief, holding informal conversations on subjects that might be a bit more controversial or difficult than those which other organisations might tackle. It was gathered together by (and around) Bishop Tim in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and 7/7 - which is appropriate this evening, since the first item on the agenda is the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

In connection with this topic, it's decided that the city's faith communities have to focus on reconciliation, finding common ground and solidarity with Muslims. This tenth anniversary falls on a Sunday, which would allow certain kinds of events in public spaces to be appropriate. We don't know if the City Council or County Council intend to hold anything. We're reminded that this tenth anniversary will be covered extensively in the media - and that if we don't write the story of how it plays out in Leicester, others will.

Other topics tonight include policing issues (in particular a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission on Leicestershire Constabulary's record on Stop and Search); the omission of Religious Education from the new English Baccalaureate; and the establishment of the new Hindu school in Evington, in the old Leicester Grammar Junior School, adjacent to St Paul's (the school is eager to engage with the wider faith communities of the city and has offered itself as a venue for the next meeting of the Faith Leaders Forum in March).

When Noel and I are asked to speak about Inter Faith Week 2011, he goes first. We're sitting at opposite ends of the room and that's reflected in the kind of things we say. Noel's concerned about Inter Faith Week being a case of preaching to the choir, with same old faces saying the same old things to the same old audiences, in the same old places. He urges getting out and connecting with ordinary people throughout the city and county - going where they are and trying to bring Inter Faith Week to them. He's particularly keen on getting schools involved.

I, on the other hand, think that we made a pretty good fist of getting among the public, through our week-long exhibition in Highcross for the second year running. I say a little about how that came about in 2009, how it went in 2010 and how Highcross has tentatively offered the same opportunity to us again this year.

I don't think I need to go over National Inter Faith Week 2010 (or 2009 for that matter) here. There's enough about them already in this blog (see entries passim). But in this context I do get to raise a few truisms that I think would be good if we could acknowledge and change. One is the absence from events such as the Highcross exhibition by "faith leaders" who simply don't know how to talk to members of the public. Now I wouldn't want to give the impression that I'm knocking anyone by saying this (and I seem to get agreement round the table when I do). They may be at ease speaking with royalty, MPs, academics and the like, but they'll run a mile from a single mum pushing a double buggy! It's a different mindset and skillset: many of those who enjoy being among the general public at occasions like the Highcross exhibition or the Celebrate One Leicester event would feel ill at ease in the presence of dignitaries and notables. Beyond this, another problem (and a more serious one I believe) is that some of the faith communities at large don't seem interested in supporting an event such as this. Also, in the two years this event has been held so far, there has been little acknowledgment or support from Leicester City Council (only in the form of Lord Mayor Roger Blackmore and his wife Hilary opening the event in 2009).

We discussed what we can do for 2011 that we haven't done before. I mention Chris Minter's offer of the City's Council's Adult Skills and Learning Service getting behind the event. We also have a promising offer of Phoenix Square running a season of themed movies during the week. There's a proposal that we should make a concerted effort to make it something bigger for schools. The idea is raised of each faith hosting one day (making it an eight-day week, but we can sort that out somehow). We also acknowledge the need for appropriate central coordination.

sign the pledge

An invitation to Leicester Cathedral this morning, for the public signing and launch of a pledge that the city’s faith communities stand together in the face of the controversial demonstration by the English Defence League (EDL) a week tomorrow. Originating with the Faiths Leaders Forum, which is chaired by the Bishop of Leicester, the pledge will be available in the Cathedral over the coming week for people of all faiths (and of none) to come in and sign. The text of the pledge is as follows:

We, leaders and members of faith communities in Leicester, value highly the diversity of the city and the contribution different communities make to the wellbeing and quality of life in our city. We condemn all who seek to divide and sow seeds of distrust between our communities. In particular we condemn, in the strongest terms, the activities of the English Defence League, directed against out Muslim brothers and sisters. We also affirm that the EDL’s use of the Christian religion to support their perspective is a blasphemous misinterpretation of the Christian Gospel.

We fully endorse the words spoken by Her Majesty the Queen in welcoming Pope Benedict on his state visit:

“Your Holiness, in recent times you have said that ‘religions can never become vehicles of hatred, that never by invoking the name of God can evil and violence be justified. Today, in this country, we stand united in that conviction. We hold that freedom to worship is at the core of our tolerant and democratic society.

We will work with all people of goodwill to encourage mutual respect, valuing the dignity of every person and we encourage all citizens of Leicester to do the same.

There's a higher degree of media presence here today than I've seen at any inter-faith event in Leicester: BBC radio and TV and the Leicester Mercury are here to cover it.

Six of the eight member communities of Leicester Council of Faiths have people here to sign the pledge. I'm the only Bahá'í here, so I sign the pledge on behalf of the Leicester community. This is the first occasion on which I've identified myself as such, after more than three years in this post. But these are special times.

In the photo: representatives of the city's Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Jewish communities with the Bishop of Leicester, outside the Cathedral this morning.

stay away from protest, urge city's faith leaders

Here's how today's Leicester Mercury reports the Faiths Leaders Forum meeting which took place last night at Bishop's Lodge, in the context of ongoing overall preparations for Saturday 9 October:

Stay away from protest, urge city's faith leaders
by Ciaran Fagan, Social Affairs Correspondent

A united call has gone out urging people to stay away from protests by the English Defence League and its opponents.

Police, Leicester City Council and faith leaders, including the Federation of Muslim Organisations, hope to minimise the potential for public disorder when the English Defence League (EDL) stages a protest on Saturday, October 9.

Groups opposed to the EDL, including Leicester Unite Against Fascism, are planning counter protests.

Together, it is thought, the demonstrations could attract several thousand people.

A peace vigil is being planned for the Friday night before the protest, while a "celebration" of the city is being lined up for the Sunday.

However, police and council officials have stressed the city centre will be open for business on the day.

The timings and location of the protests have not been agreed yet.

Leicestershire's chief constable Simon Cole and the city council have asked the Home Secretary to ban all marches on the day.

The authorities are powerless to prevent static protests. Instead, they are only able to impose conditions on the location, size and duration of static demonstrations.

Deputy chief constable Gordon Fraser said: "We would like people to not take part on Saturday and to join the festivities on Friday and Sunday.

"Our advice is to not be tempted to come into the city centre on that day to take part in these events."

Sheila Lock, chief executive of Leicester City Council, said: "If people want to protest about what the EDL stands for, we would ask them to make their protest on the Friday or the Sunday.

"On occasions like this people can get caught up in events in a way they wouldn't if they had time to reflect.

"We have spoken to the retailers and, by and large, it will be business as usual.

"We are waiting to hear from the Home Secretary. Even if we get the ban on the march, we do not have powers to ban a static protest."

Faith leaders last night spelled out their opposition to the EDL.

In a joint statement, leaders of the city's Faith Leaders Forum, whose members include the Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Jewish faiths as well as others, said: "We condemn all who seek to divide and sow the seeds of distrust between our communities.

"In particular, we condemn, in the strongest terms, the activities of the English Defence League."

The Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations, which represents almost 200 mosques and community groups, also urged people to stay away.

Spokesman Suleman Nagdi said: "Our strong advice is that people stay away from the EDL protest and any counter demonstration and rallies that may take place.

"We believe any counter protest will only serve to undermine the image of Muslims as a law-abiding and peaceful people.

"We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from Muslim communities in other parts of the country.

"We in Leicester appreciate this greatly but would urge our fellow brothers and sisters from around the UK not to travel to Leicester and participate in any counter demonstrations."

Councillor Manjula Sood, Chair of the Council of Faiths, takes objection to the way in which the Mercury doesn't name all the faith communities involved. So do I.

I note with interest the following comment beneath this story on the Mercury's website: "The comments facility has been turned off on this story as a minority of posters have been abusing the facility."

19 Day Feast

I'm with my local Bahá'í friends this evening, celebrating the 19 Day Feast at the home of Aramesh Mahboubi in Rushey Mead.

Minou Cortazzi, stalwart of the Leicester Bahá'í community and former Chair of the Council of Faiths, joins the meeting late, having attended the Faith Leaders Forum earlier in the evening. This meeting, convened by the Bishop of Leicester, focused on the issue of the demonstrations next month by the English Defence League (EDL) and Unite Against Fascism (UAF). Minou talks to us about the meeting, what was decided and what is to be done.

In the devotional part of the Feast (which comes at the start of the meeting), I'm asked to read aloud an extract from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh that strike me as being appropriate to the mood that many are feeling at the close approach of these demonstrations in Leicester:

Say: O people of God! Beware lest the powers of the earth alarm you, or the might of the nations weaken you, or the tumult of the people of discord deter you, or the exponents of earthly glory sadden you. Be ye as a mountain in the Cause of your Lord, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Unconstrained.

coming to you live

Having been asked on Friday afternoon by BBC Radio Leicester to provide someone involved in both the Council of Faiths and the Faiths Leaders Forum to be interviewed live on air just after eight this morning - and having circulated this request among the likely candidates on Friday - I still don't know for certain who (if anyone) will appear on the airwaves. I'm sure that someone is going to do it, otherwise the BBC would have called me - wouldn't they? The consensus was that our Chair, Manjula Sood, should be the one, but she thought it might be a little too early for her. After the news at eight, I'm glad to hear she's in the studio, taking questions from presenter Ben Jackson about the forthcoming dual protests in the city by the English Defence League (EDL) and Unite Against Fascism (UAF). She's impassioned, persuasive and reasonable - as I'd expect her to be - and doesn't buy into that convention where the host apparently has to ask the kind of questions that only the dumbest and least informed listener would think of.

EDL/UAF briefing for Voluntary & Community Sector

To Leicester Town Hall this evening, for a briefing session jointly hosted by the City Council and Leicestershire Constabulary, updating us on preparations for the visit of the English Defence League, as well as the proposed counter-demonstration by Unite Against Fascism, on Saturday 9 October. There are a dozen or so attendees, specifically invited, representing a variety of Voluntary and Community Sector organisations, working across the city or based and operating in specific parts or with specific communities. I'm accompanied by Gursharan Thandi, who (as well as sitting on the Board of Directors of Leicester Council of Faiths) is also one of two representatives for communities of interest in terms of religion and belief on Leicester Partnership.

Below is a copy of the presentation we were given this evening, word-for-word. My occasional interpolations are in brackets.

An overview of the proposed march and counter-demonstration

Briefing for Voluntary and Community Sector Stakeholders
Leicestershire Constabulary, Leicester City Council

Agenda

·      Introduction: Councillor Veejay Patel [Leader, Leicester City Council]

·      Overview Briefing: Sheila Lock [Chief Executive, Leicester City Council], [Chief Superintendent] Rob Nixon [City Commander]

·      Q&A

·      Summary of main action points

Who are we talking to?

·      Four Levels

·      The community stakeholder groups

·      Key partners in the public sector

·      The media

·      The EDL themselves and any counter protest groups

Objectives

·      Reassurance that we are working together

·      Let you know what we know

·      Make you aware of the legal position

·      Tell you what the police and council are doing

·      Inform you of what the police role is

·      Inform you of what the council role is

·      Explore what your role could be

·      Discuss next steps in relation to this event

·      Discuss how we as a city “move on” after this event

What we know

·      An early indication of an intent to march in September that came to nothing – through informal routes

·      Indication to the police from the English Defence League (EDL) that they intend to stage a march in Leicester city centre on Saturday October 9

·      The EDL formed in June 2009 – not legally defined as an extreme right wing group – previous events in the country have attracted those with strong right wing views

·      Indication from Unite Against Fascism (UAF) that they wish to hold a counter-demonstration

·      Application received on 15 September by UAF

·      Busy day for City – open day for universities (7000 international visitors), Somali event (smaller event), National Trade Union Conference, Navratri, Saturday morning Cathedral Service (600 people) – following day, Leicester Marathon [Option simply to close everything down for the day was considered, but it was decided in the end to go for “business as usual” – although taking this route requires that there be a strong plan in place.]

Legal position

·      Any ban for a march has to be made by the Council to the Home Secretary.  Supported by evidence that can demonstrate significant risk of disorder and risk to cohesion

·      Even if ban is applied for and is successful does not prevent static demonstrations taking place.  EDL can still come to Leicester

·      No legal powers to prevent a lawful peaceful protest

·      Legislative changes since BNP ban in 2001

What are Police and Council doing?

·      We take our community leadership role very seriously

·      Working with partnership agencies to jointly plan and manage the response to the event and any issues that arise before or after

·      Learning the lessons from other areas who have had similar events [good practice and bad]

·      Police and council engaging and listening to all communities

·      Police are in dialogue with groups who may seek to protest/counter demonstrate on the day

·      Exploring all our legal powers [e.g. ban on sale of alcohol in city centre on the day, management of public transport network]

·      Planning will continue in the weeks ahead – continued liaison

·      Police and council have considerable experience in planning events

·      Dealing with this in an objective way that is professional, to do otherwise leaves the city open to challenge and potential further risk

Police role

·      Facilitate peaceful protest and comply with duty under Human Rights Act

·      If anyone commits a criminal offence will be dealt with fairly but firmly

·      We will not tolerate damage to the city or acts of violence

·      Anyone involved in violence, disorder or racist behaviour which is unlawful will be liable to prosecution

·      Celebrate diversity and be proud of our city

Council Role

·      To exercise its community leadership role for the city – in partnership with others

·      To follow a lawful decision making process that considers objectively all the available advice and views

·      To make an application on behalf of the city to the Secretary of State if that is the outcome following the lawful process

·      Actively working with the Police to enhance security and traffic management

·      Clear united leadership [not a party issue; everyone putting political differences aside to work together for the good of the city, both Leadership and Opposition]

As community leaders: your role

·      Conveying the strength of feeling in Leicester is important, but so is conveying it in the right way

·      Support for non confrontational means

·      Getting out the message re consultation and alternative events

·      Helping to identify “vulnerable” groups and individuals [and sites] and providing diversionary activity

The message to the community

·      If you feel strongly about what is happening, express those views to your local councillor, trade union branch, community or faith leader or to the council chief executive so that your view can be fed into the decision making process.

·      If you are concerned please speak to your local police.

·      The police and council want to reassure and support all communities and encourage them not to be provoked into reacting to the protests [need to be sensitive to changes in mood as the day approaches]

·      We don’t want people coming into the city intent on confronting any protestors.  Please let the police handle events.

·      We would ask that you don’t get drawn into inflammatory dialogue on social networking sites.

·      If you want to come to Leicester to shop/normal business expect some disruption.  Busy but wish to see business as usual.

·      Celebrate in City event. [to take place on Sunday 10, the day following the march and counter-demonstration]

What next?

·      We will promise to keep you informed as the situation develops

·      To help us we really need a two-way conversation – tell us your concerns or any information you think we need to know.

·      ConsulationEDL@leicester.gov.uk

·      [email only opened at start of this week, but already more than 500 posts received]

·      If you don’t want to speak to the police or council speak to a community leader who will speak to us on your behalf.

·      Any questions?

Several minutes are given over to questions, answers and comments at the end, in which all those attending (including Gursharan and I) take the opportunity to chip in. Our Chair, Manjula Sood, had been to a similar breifing held in the same place the night before. She called me this afternoon and asked me to make sure that I'd speak here this evening. I said that, if the opportunity arose – "Don't wait for opportunity", she told me, "You should speak!" This evening's proceedings are being webcast; comments made here will form part of the body of evidence required for the City Council when making its decision whether to apply to the Home Office for an order to ban the march at its emergency Cabinet meeting tomorrow. Manjula doesn't want the meeting to go on record without something being heard from the Council of Faiths – and quite right too.

Well I've never exactly been backward at coming forward, so: several times this evening, Sheila has mentioned a meeting of the Faiths Leaders Forum this coming Monday, at which those present will agree a joint statment expressing a united view about 9 October. So I take the floor briefly to explain the distinction between the Faith Leaders Forum and the Council of Faiths, and the different functions they perform, saying how each supports and complements the other. While I'm on, I say that one of our objectives at the Council of Faiths is to collate and disseminate accurate infomation, as a way of building up confidence and playing down fears. We don't want our members or those they represent to be influenced by rumour. When I say that I'll be putting the text of the PowerPoint presentation on our blog, Sheila responds over the mic by saying, "That's just what we were hoping for" and giving me a double thumbs-up.

As the meeting nears its end, Gursharan expresses her heartfelt view that, as difficult as this issue is, it presents us with the opportunity to do the right thing by our city and its people and how we’ll be judged by our actions on 9 October and on the days leading up to it and following it. As she's speaking, what comes to mind is the recent meetings that Sheila Lock has convened on promoting Leicester as a centre of excellence in community cohesion - at which we're discussing how to bottle "essence of Leicester" and promote it around the country and further afield. The coming weeks will test out whether we really can walk the walk here or do we just talk the talk. Is our unity in diversity genuine or will it crumble at the first real challenge?

Gursharan's words nicely set up Councillor Mohammed Dawood, Cabinet Lead for Community Cohesion, who sums up the meeting and signs off on a positive and upbeat note.