Secular intellectuals are ignored and the hard core mollas and religious activits are regarded as the brain of minorities here.That has always been the case here in Britain. To beat the fundamentalism or the hard line politicians, clinging to them even more. It makes me think that hard liner Muslim mullahs and activists got impunity where as open minded Muslim philosophers, philanthropists, filmmakers, poets, artists, writers and the activists are ignored. Let alone funding bodies, they can’t attract an MP or councilor for their election campaign. I wonder why? Is it because these people do not nurture any dangerous and threatening organisations in the name of faith? Or is it because they got on well with all sorts of people in the society effortlessly and unaided? Or is it the legacy of British politics which is deep inside is quiet conventional?
 
If we look back in the recent years we will see the lots of religious institutions been built and expanded by huge amount of council grant. But money was not given to build community libraries or reading, cultural celebrations, dance, drama or installations which could inspire cross cultural people to live in harmony. Enjoy it regardless of their religion, culture and creed.
 
As a poet from the out skirt of East London, how much opportunity or support I got from the main stream? If I was preaching religion, I doubted I would have any straggle of survival at all. I could be in a good position by now. 
 
There are budget cuts in schools in every year. Schools hardly have a full time dance, music, P E or art teacher. We don’t see poets or writers in schools, libraries apart from Book week, national poetry or Black History Month. Once a journalist asks me, so how often you read your poems or perform? I said, mostly in the black history month. This is the month when I know I exist in Britain as a poet!