Some months ago, the media were taken with the story that the BNP were going to capture lots of council seats across the country.
Junior minister Margaret Hodge made some hysterical comments about 90% of her constituents in Barking considering voting for the rightwing racists.
In the event, the BNP did capture some more seats, primarily in the North. Their limited success seemed to indicate that Labour were ignoring the concerns of their white working-class base, and that unless something was done the BNP would grow stronger.
In the light of Jack Straw's remarks yesterday, it seems that someone at the Labour top table has taken note. As MP for Blackburn, Straw has a huge Muslim community in his constituency.
He has excellent relations with Muslims, he is a respected member of the government, and he does not make comments on a subject as sensitive as this without giving it some serious thought.
Straw's comments speak directly to the white working class Labour supporters across the North and beyond. Many do feel that wearing a full veil does build barriers between communities. It is just that no-one in the Labour party has had the balls to say so.
Labour have seemed afraid to question the attitudes and behavior of a small minority of Muslim in Britain for fear of upsetting the wider community.
While John Reid's call on Muslim parents to 'watch' their children for signs they might be radicalised sounded more like a threat than an encouragement, Straw's comments are more sophisticated.
When I fly to Dubai, I am expected to show respect for their culture by dressing appropriately. Why do a small minority of Muslims not show any respect for the European cultural discomfort with people that do not show their face?
If I was to walk around a shopping centre wearing a balaclava that covered my face, it would almost cause suspicion and alarm to my fellow shoppers. There is even a good chance that I would be asked to remove the headgear or leave.
You cannot go into a bank wearing a crash helmet. Jack Straw has raised one of the fundamental problems facing the Muslim community in Britain - their desire to close themselves off from the rest of the population.
John Reid's comments were rightly derided as more tough talk. Straw has hit upon something deeper, something he has a deep understanding of. Muslims feel isolated, but by wearing veils on the streets of Blackburn they isolate everyone else around them.
The way to beat the BNP is to show that their policies are unworkable and their election literature full of lies.
We also need to tackle radical Muslims head on, and make them understand that they have rights in this country but also responsibilities. If they honestly feel that their religious beliefs are being discriminated against by being asked to show their face in public, then they should find another country to live in. To pretend that everything is ok and everyone his happy and content with things exactly as they are plays straight into the hands of the BNP.
Jack Straw understands his constituents very well. He understands that the 75% of his voters who are not Muslim are made uncomfortable by the sight of women covered from head to foot. On the streets of London, I feel a similar discomfort.
In a small town like Burnley, where two communities do not mix at school or socially, it is easy to imagine how resentment builds to violence.
The Tories are also making the right noises. David Cameron urged all faith schools to follow the example of the Church of England and admit 25% of pupils from other faiths.
Cameron also said anyone wanting to live in the UK must learn English. Why would that be regarded as contentious, except by the most zealous proponent of separatism?
Indeed, Gordon Brown called for exactly the same thing, and his new Citizenship tests also try to reinforce the fact that moving to Britain means accepting British values.
For many years phrases like 'British Values' were code for racist, BNP views.
It is encouraging to see that all parties have grasped the scale of the challenge ahead. Muslims must be puller closer into British society if we are to ensure no more horrific events like the London bombings.
Jack Straw is to be applauded for his brave stance on veils. He is continuing the fight to stop extremism in the Muslim community, while at the same time reassuring white Britons that the government understands their concerns.
