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There's a Basque joke/saying that goes: "Where is a Basque person born? Answer: Donde le da la gana. (Wherever they like.)" There are many more like this that reflect a great sense of pride in being Basque and also that these are a people who have travelled to the four corners of the globe, sometimes fleeing persecution, at other times for work, such as fishing in unknown territories for cod. (See Mark Kurlansky's book, Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World.) For me, these Basque jokes or sayings, coupled with their history, reflect endearing qualities for a nation that are resolute about their complex identity.

For Leeds University to abandon its race case against Dr Frank Ellis and allow him to retire early with one year's salary with his pension in tact is breathtaking cowardice, an abuse of public funds, and a slap in the face for black Britain.

The Commission for Racial Equality boss, Trevor Phillips, opened the floodgates to this erroneous debate about multiculturalism two years ago. Like the BBC newsreader George Alagiah, writing in yesterday's Daily Mail, he blamed the "policies of multiculturalism" for the alienation and radicalisation of British Muslims.

It was the prime minister's protege, Trevor Phillips, who was sent out to put up a smokescreen debate to explain the radicalisation of British Muslims. Calling for a discussion about multiculturalism, he claimed it had segregated communities, and must be replaced by a programme of integration. In a statement he would later have to apologise for, he infamously remarked, "we are sleepwalking into segregation." Every national media outlet covered the story, frightening middle England and empowering the British National Party to their greatest ever show at the polls.

OK, Patrick Mercer MP has been booted out the shadow cabinet and consigned to the political scrapheap along with other outdated Tory bigots such as John Townsend and Norman Tebbitt. Whatever Edward Pearce might say, that's where he belongs. And you can almost hear a collective sigh of relief from the Tory frontbench.

It was the Prime Ministers protégé, Trevor Phillips, who was sent out to put up a smoke screen debate to explain the radicalisation of British Muslims.

As part of the Radio 4 Great Debates series I took part in the debate that pitted the ideas of two of the greatest African Americans that ever lived: Dr Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. How their ideas differed then and what is their relevance today formed the platform for the four combatants; the theologian and scholar Dr David Muir, and myself to make the case for Dr King, against the Historian Dr Hakim Adi and Toyin Agbetu the founder of Ligali, the African British Equality Authority, arguing for Malcolm X.06/02/2006

Simon Woolley, 02 Apr 2003 

As the armoured divisions of President George W Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair encircle Baghdad and Basra, victory for the allies will almost certainly come sooner rather than later. But at what price? Will the Bush/Blair axis bring greater peace and stability to the Gulf region and beyond or have they unwittingly unleashed a new world disorder.

Simon Woolley, 17 Jun 2002 

Although, I for one, will feel a little bereft this time next week due to the fact that the world cup will be over, on another level I'll be glad.

Simon Woolley, 26 Mar 2003 

Having just returned from a hectic five days in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, I am mentally and physically tired. Anytime you cross the great pond you are likely to witness a fascinating, sometimes disturbing double edged sword that is American life. The best and worst of how we can be. This has never been more truer as the US un-cocks the trigger of war ready to unleash its formidable military might.