A PROPOSAL that civil servants and other public office holders should swear an oath to British values does not address the root causes of extremism, according to a Keighley councillor.

Keighley town councillor Anayat Mohammad has responded to an idea put forward by Government Communities Secretary Sajid Javid.

Mr Javid said such an oath, if implemented, could include pledging a commitment to basic values such as democracy, equality and freedom of speech.

He made the proposal after a report by Dame Louise Casey warned of increasing ethnic segregation in parts of Britain.

But Cllr Mohammad, who has a professional background in developing social cohesion and anti extremism policies, said he felt this measure was a "half hearted" approach.

"To target those working in the public sector to sign such an oath demonstrates complete incompetence in dealing with the root causes of this challenge," he said.

"People working in public positions already believe in democracy, equality and the rule of law, otherwise they wouldn't be found out in those positions.

"The Communities Secretary should be focusing his priorities on creating a more equal society, establishing further support for those being pushed deeper into poverty through austerity, and understanding the needs of vulnerable communities such as minorities.

"The Casey Report failed to find anything new about the causes of racism and why minority communities still feel victimised.

"The simple answers are better education in our schools, better employment opportunities for those with foreign names, a health service that is better resourced, more support from the centre for critical public services, and tougher laws against those that promote hate on our streets.

"Establishing a more equal society is the best route to giving people of different backgrounds an assured sense of belonging and in turn achieving integration – something I would have thought Mr Javid would understand firsthand."