Last visit of the day is to the Wightman Road Mosque. Excellent conversation with the President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Trust which runs the mosque.

We sit in a meeting room upstairs and range our discussion across the obvious issues of the day. We all agree that more engagement is necessary to offset the suspicion that has fallen on the Muslim population so unfairly in almost all cases. Clearly Iraq looms large in the causes of bombing coming to our shores. I think Tony Blair’s early denial that the war was anything to do with the bombings was just the most stupid thing he could say. Not a direct and solitary cause of course – but to say it played no part – ridiculous.

However, we are all solidly agreed that bombing and violence have no place in a democratic society. From which we move to the fact that so many of the community did not vote and do not believe in engaging in the democratic process. I suggest that along with coming to the mosque so that young people have the opportunity to question and talk with me (an MP) directly, that in addition if there are groups of youngsters (or anyone) who would like to come to tour Parliament and meet myself and a few other MPs I would be happy to arrange such a visit. I think engagement in the political life and process of the country is vital.

This is a well run mosque who have banned some of the organisations the media give so much time to. They are worried that T Blair’s proposals will drive such groups underground and that no one will know any longer where danger lurks – because even the Muslim community won’t know.

They are upset at the deportations and we talk about the pros and cons. I suggest that if they found the need to ban groups from the Mosque – then you could see the potential need to ban certain groups and to deport certain people. I think the difference is that the offending groups were given the opportunity under warning to stop what they were doing or they would be banned. Perhaps that would be a better proposal then just banning and creating an underground and martyrs.

These are difficult and challenging times. I generally find being myself and sticking to my guns steers me well through most situations regardless of what those challenges are. It is never any use saying something you don’t believe and agreeing with something just because you know that someone wants you to. You just have to say what you really think whilst being sensitive to how other people feel from their perspectives. It’s not rocket science.

And then I trudge homewards. I am actually still working until next Tuesday – but in terms of blogging – I will be taking my usual mid-year break and will be back around mid-September. So – see you then – in what will undoubtedly be a lively period in British politics.