The battle between Michael Gove and Theresa May is providing a great deal of interest for people who watch the Westminster village in the same way as some of us watch Weatherfield or Albert Square for the latest goings on. However the future of two powerful Conservative Politicians or even their Special Advisers should be of little consequence when compared to the real needs of the families implicated in their argument. Thirteen years ago the destruction of the twin towers led to a step-change in my understanding of the Muslim community in this country, perhaps it is shameful that I had lived for so long alongside people I knew so little about. Violence creates terror, and terror sometimes leads to violence. That may be as true of the violent impact of bailiffs removing belongings from a household that has fallen behind in their rent, as it is of the violent impact of a tower block being destroyed by a hijacked plane a Continent away. The damage created in families by poor laws and bad policies rushed through a Parliament desperate to address a greater failing can have as much impact on those affected, as the fear of people unlike us, when some of ‘those people’ do a terrible thing. Clearly the motivation of a democratic Government, no matter how incompetent or careless can never be equated to the motivation of groups of people who hijack planes, or make bombs. However it is vital that all of us are aware that the damage done to us or carried out in our name. Even the most benign bad decision can lead to crisis and conflict for other people and sadly this can lead to outcomes no one could have anticipated.

The problems for Michael and Theresa and their Special Advisers is that as tempting as it is to try to solve local problems from a Westminster vantage point by announcement or statements to newspapers, this strategy is bound to fail. For two elected MPs to squabble in private is not a matter of great concern, but if they are determined to use megaphone diplomacy the casualties in their ‘personal’ dispute will be numerous and may go very deep. Throughout the last 13 years I have observed on a number of occasions how discussions about the PREVENT policy has created a sense of isolation for very peaceful and entirely innocent men and women who are followers of Islam. The policy has also created tension for people from other backgrounds, particularly those from a Sikh and Hindu tradition, and those who have no faith background at all. The risk is that some of those who are in danger of radicalisation may actually be tipped in the wrong direction by an over emphasis on this policy. This impact is magnified every time we have a national statement on PREVENT or a discussion on Islamisation.

We need Michael Gove and Theresa May to follow through on their recent actions by reigning back on any tendency to micro manage local communities from Whitehall. It is clearly unsustainable to have so many Schools with no local oversight beyond the work of the governing bodies. Michael Gove has apologised for his actions which has clearly cost him some political capital. He needs to go further and reconnect all Academies with the local authorities that understand their context in a way that no Government Minister can.