http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5410472.stm

His assertion that a veil harms community relations is deeply offensive and stupid. It is merely a religious garment that some Muslim women choose to wear.

If a racist or other idiot has a problem with a veil then it is that person who has the problem, not the wearer of the veil.

Straw proposes that Muslim women pander to the prejudices of the morons.

Perhaps Straw would like people with "complicated" Islamic names to shorten them to Smith, or maybe he'd people with dark skin to lighten up a bit so they can seen at night, just to help community relations?

What would help community relations would be politicains who didn't utter racist stupidity.