Muslim AND Catholic segregated schools are 'wrong', says Question Time panelist
SCHOOLS that segregate children according to any faith are a bad idea, according to a panelist speaking on Question Time tonight.
Liberal Democrat peer Matthew Oakeshott said it is not wise to separate children by religious faith and youngsters should just go to one type of school.
The BBC One show was broadcast from Blackburn where a Muslim free school for boys, the first of its kind in the UK, is set to be opened.
The 66-year-old said: "I think we should go to all the same schools and segregation is wrong.
"I think we should all go to the same schools and not have separate religious schools."
Writer Andrew Wilson said he was against Islamic schools being set up and cited Northern Ireland as an example of why segregation does not work.
He claimed that given current tensions in the country following the Woolwich terror attack it was vital Muslim felt part of the country.
He said: "I think for Muslim schools growing up in this country they should feel part of the country.
I think we should go to all the same schools and segregation is wrong
"I think to have segregated schools is putting a great burden on Muslim children."
Conservative MP Margot James said as long as a Muslim school had enough places for people of other faiths it is perfectly acceptable.
However, Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander said separate Catholic schools should not lead to poorer education at other institutes.
The Labour MP said: "One way that you can advance [the mixing of faiths] is to have joint campuses is to have a religious ethos but people play together."