There is a major flaw in the thinking of any government policy that at the heart of it aims to instil ‘British values’ into the minds of young people.

The problem is that quite frankly people do not want to be told that they should ‘love’ their country. They shouldn’t have to be told and taught this in the first place.

It is patronising to be told that you aren’t essentially British enough. And it is quite deluded to think that this will actually work.

This week, the debate has continued in to how the Government will respond to the supposed growing threat of Islamic extremism to the UK.

There has been suggestions that as well fighting this evil ideology there is a need to make people feel ‘more British’.

The problem is that British values are not going to make any difference to those who wish to carry out acts of violence in the name of religion. It won’t make any difference to those who want to share the extremist narrative.

There is clear and simple reason for this and one that the policy makers are keen not to touch upon.

You can condemn terrorist attacks, beheadings and tow the government line as much as you want. But you have large elements of the media and politicians who simply do not see you as British.

If you ask any Muslim why he or she has stopped making an effort to ‘promote their Britishness’ to the wider community they will answer by saying ‘It doesn’t make any difference anymore’.

It makes little difference if you have adopted all the British values because sadly you will still be held in suspicion.

It is easy to see how this can have an apparent debilitating effect. Over the past few years you have high profile Muslims fall by the wayside due comments they may have made with regards to foreign policy and cultural ideals.

Each time their religion has been brought up like some overbearing burden they must carry with them anytime they say anything controversial.

What do some of them do? They try their best not to state how ‘Muslim’ they are in case it affects their ‘Britishness’.

Moreover, in sections of the Muslim community you will continue to have people who will forever find almost every single intrusion by the government as an intrusion against their religion.

Do we honestly feel that a new sense of feeling British is going to make some idiot from wanting to join IS?

Making people feel more British will not make them better people. It does not make them feel less likely to carry out a terrorist attack. And will not stop them from being drawn to an evil ideology.

Something we don’t want to accept.