We have an obsession with ‘British Values’. We are a nation that seems to think that by forcing British values down the throats of people will make things better.

The idea that it will help immigrants and particular Muslims to integrate is one of the biggest fallacies of modern times.

You can’t force people to be more British. In recent years whenever we are faced with national or international issues we have a two-pronged attack on those deemed immigrants.

We have accusations that certain sections, in particular Muslims are simply not British enough. Newspapers, TV reports and Radio discussions centre around how one particular community could ‘try that little harder’ to be more British.

It is a common theme that is repeated by even those news and current affairs programmes we have come to respect.

There is a focus on ‘British values’ and how it will shape a generation.

Then we have Muslims who then go out of their way to prove how British they are.

In recent years we have a whole host of mosque representatives and Muslim organisations who try their best to don the Union jack and boast of ‘Britishness’.

The idea seems to be that if we tell them how British we are then it might help to dispel myths. It will in some way help to alleviate the anti-Islamic rhetoric.

But it doesn’t make any difference. It makes no real difference to those who choose not to report it and to anyone else for that matter.

Some of our reaction to the rampant prejudice is very similar to how our forefathers behaved. Some of us hope that it is a passing storm, whilst others become almost apologetic and see their own community as an embarrassment.

The big problem with the idea of ‘Britishness’ is that if the so-called ‘British’ have no British values what chance the rest of us?

Your common man who calls for British values doesn’t have a clue what this is. To some it is the idea that there should freedom and equality for all.

To others it means making sure that you put your country first before your religion. To another set it means looking and acting British.

Ministers announced in June that they would consult on plans to tighten the wording on current standards in order to require all schools to ‘actively promote’ fundamental British values, including democracy, tolerance, mutual respect, individual liberty and the rule of law.

And it was reported today that the Church of England said that the list of values given in the document is too narrow and "do not include several important aspects of British life".

This includes: "'Loving your neighbour' and 'being prepared to receive from the outsider' as demonstrated by the Good Samaritan" as well as the importance of dissent - such as the campaign to abolish slavery, and a "commitment to the common good".

All very well.

Are we honestly to believe that these are the values that many ‘traditional Brits’ hold?

This nonsensical idea that ‘Being British’ will help us all become this one homogeneous nation is nothing short quite farcical now.

I do realise that this is not what most people want to hear. But we might see ourselves as British in the truest sense of the word.

To get told to be more British every now and then is patronising and makes you feel less part of this country.