History teaches us that, whatever we say, racists will always distort the words of mainstream politicians to make themselves sound more respectable.

Politicians are just as human as anybody else.

Muslim communities themselves, as they expect mainstream society to stand down racists, must do more to also stand down the Islamist extremists.

History is usually told from the top down by politicians and academics. This is history as told through the voices and stories of everyday people.

If you don't create a sense of order and stability, if people do not feel secure, then progressive politics is dead. That is a fact of history. The right has always emerged supreme when destabilisation and insecurity prevail.

Bishops and judges are some of the best politicians in the world. They know how to manipulate the political process.