Hague seeks Muslim support

Opposition Conservative Party leader William Hague has lavished praise on Muslims for their contribution to British society and for leading the fight against racism.

"Your values of strong faith, education, responsibility to others, of hard work and tolerance are values, which resonate with all our citizens in every part of this country," he told Muslim leaders at the Islamic Cultural Centre in central London Tuesday.

"Islam teaches that the family must be the cradle of our society. Few understand the importance of marriage and the family better than the Muslim community," Hague said.

His meeting with Muslim leaders comes ahead of an expected announcement by Prime Minister Tony Blair next week setting out the date for an early general election, which is widely forecast to be planned for May 3.

In his speech, the opposition leader said that the Conservatives and Muslim shared the values of hard work and the family. He pledged to allow more faith-based groups to take over or set up schools and to double overseas aid to non-government organisations.

He also confirmed at the meeting, organised by the Muslim Council of Britain, that he had appointed his first Muslim adviser, Conservative candidate for Bradford West in northern England, Mohammad Riaz, on ethnic and cultural affairs.

The Conservatives are hoping that Riaz will be elected as their first Muslim MP, following Mohammad Sarwar becoming Labour's first Muslim MP at the last election in 1997. HC/JH