OPINION: It's important to listen to opposite views

The Kilroy approach was clearly evident in the Sunday Express article where he negatively stereotyped and vilified Arab people - carte blanche, with no caveats, explanations or concessions. Now he tries to wriggle out of it, saying that it was not what he meant to say, while simultaneously appealing to reactionary and frightened "middle Britain" in defence of his right to free speech and to fuel the lobby against "political correctness", whatever that catch-all phrase may mean.

I am loath to contribute in even a minor way to the debate on Kilroy-Silk's grossly unpalatable views, but he may, perversely, have done us all a favour. PC was once defined, satirically, as those who engaged in "linguistic gymnastics while deluding themselves that they were at the cutting edge of social change". It has often served to close down debate, rather than produce well-argued positions respectful of diversity, yet still acknowledging some rather undesirable realities. In our world, just think of the gushing advocacy on behalf of young people who can do no wrong, when patently many can, and do.