Griffin has not asserted why he thinks this is a bad idea, he has simply made a statement based on nothing but his own distorted perspective. The argument of whether or not allowances should be made for culturally different religions in this country is very relevant and it would be more than possible for Griffin to state his concerns elegantly, however he chooses to continue down the path of making comments based upon seemingly arbitrary 'facts'. He simply doesn't deserve most of the coverage the media gives him, and to be honest, The Tab can do better than this meagre 'story'.

…what about wearing fancy dress, if it's part of your belief system?

To Jim… I disagree… Nationalism is a form of religion…. just as Communism is… just as Environmentalism, Multiculturalism, Veganism, Hedonism, Masochism, Trainspotting, being a student <insert ideology here> is.

I think you are confusing civic nationalist identity (e.g.: USA) with ethnic nationalist identity (e.g Japan): your location along that ideological axis determines your perspective on this issue.

Notwithstanding that, wearing a burkha is a political statement, and an ethnic nationalist statement; not a religious one. There is no instruction in Islam to wear a burkha, so anyone doing that and claiming it's for religious reasons is possibly ignorant of the religion they profess; being disingenuous; lying to themselves; or lying to you… it's a political statement of (often, but not exclusively of ethnic) apartness and moral superiority.

The problem with this is that what's stopping everyone from starting their personal religion with it's own rules that must be observed? There's no official register of religions or clear criteria… it's a wonder everyone doesn't use the religious discrimination laws on a daily basis to complain about absolutely everything that ever happens to them that they don't like!

I should use it if I don't get the degree class I want – you're discriminating against me because I'm an idiot!

Double-standards methinks!

I believe people who choose to live here should try to adapt to our society and not demand we all adapt to their way of life….. I like England as it is, I don't want it to change.

I lived in Iran for 4 years and still have some good (Iranian) friends there whom I often visit – yet when I'm there, despite being a white western-woman, I don't refuse to wear a head-scarf or demand an alcoholic drink in the name of 'multi-culturalism'…. because I respected the local traditions and culture which has helped make the country such a lovely place.

Identity is not about colour of someone's skin but their actions and someone choosing to wear a burka is doing something alien to English culture – and for you to claim otherwise makes you look stupid.