75% OF LONDONERS BACK RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS DRESS
(20 November 2006)

New opinion poll figures released today show that 75 per cent of Londoners support 'the right of all persons to dress in accordance with their religious beliefs' with 18 per cent disagreeing – a majority of four to one. 82 per cent of Londoners believe 'everybody in London should be free to live their lives how they like as long as they don't stop other people doing the same' with 13 per cent disagreeing.

The poll also showed extremely strong disagreement with the view that the Government should be allowed to tell people how to lead their lives. Only 15 per cent of Londoners agreed 'the British Government has the right to tell me how to lead my life' with 76 per cent disagreeing, and even stronger opposition to the media doing so - only 4 per cent of Londoners agreed the 'media has the right to tell me how to live my life' with 94 per cent disagreeing.

The poll was undertaken by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Greater London Authority, and also shows that 94 percent of Londoners believe that 'everyone in Britain has a fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience, speech and religion, as long as they do not stop others having the same right.'

74 per cent of Londoners believe that it is important that 'there are regular events and festivals to celebrate London's different ethnic and religious communities.'

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, said: 'These figures are consistent with previous polls and confirm that Londoners strongly support living in a city as diverse as London. London is applying the principle that people should be able to live their lives as they choose, including the way they practise their religion, as long as it does not prevent others doing the same. Such a strong support of liberal values is a core foundation of good community relations. This is confirmed by the 40 per cent decline in racist attacks in London over the last six years. The poll confirms that Londoners are strongly opposed to attempts to limit their rights to freedom of expression or religion.

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