David Blunkett's comments suggesting ethnic minorities adopt "Britishness" brought a wry smile to my face. It seems to me that nobody, but nobody, wants to be British nowadays anyway. English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish, yes. But British? How else can one explain the "British" obsession with finding an ancestor who might have been part Spanish, French, Viking, Troglodyte, whatever?

Although a passport may define our right to reside in a particular country, it hardly affects our own sense of who we are. And, in any case we are all transferring to European passports - a status which almost everyone eschews. Setting aside passport issues for the moment, how else can our sense of national identity be measured?

Ability to speak English is hardly a pre-requisite. Indeed the "British" are renowned the world over for being unable to speak any language other than English. Here our European counterparts, like the Dutch, Belgian and French triumph once more. On average, most can speak at least two languages. So asking ethnic minorities to speak English - c'est un peu "riche" n'est ce pas?

Perhaps our sense of national identity is measured by where we live. Liverpudlians, Brummies and Jordies all have pride in their regional roots. However, as a high proportion of ethnic minorities live in poor, deprived inner city areas, the term "ghettoites" is hardly going to fuel renewed nationalistic vigour.

Maybe our food defines us? But with curry rating as the UK's favourite dish, this could create even more confusion. A browse along any major supermarket shelf - laden with Noon convenience foods, Pataks pickles, Madhur Jaffrey's sauces, Karan Bilimoria's Cobra beer and Darjeeling Tea may not help. And isn't it fantastic that you can even purchase mangoes, guavas, pineapples, coriander, ginger, garlic and okra along with ready-to-eat spotted dick. Variety is truly the spice of life - in the kitchen anyhow.

Of course, it could be that we should all go out and mix some more. For first generation ethnic business owners who sell goods to their own social groups, it is the supreme law of commerce that dictates that they should be located in an area where their customers are. Indeed, the beleaguered corner shop would hardly be called such if there were no street corners. The decline of this imminently useful local shop is due to the emergence of the supermarket - manned 24/7 by more ethnic minorities. And it does not end there; hospitals, public services, transport all rely heavily on these very same people. So exactly how are they supposed to get out more?

For second and third generation Asians, this furore is bemusing. Most speak excellent English, work in international companies, relax and mix with all types of people, marry whomever they choose, enjoy 'British' life to full - such as it is. Indeed they need no encouragement to get out and socialise more!

Perhaps, David Blunkett is a little overworked and needs to get out more himself. Maybe he should pop out to visit one of the 8,000 curry houses, that daily serve up the nation's favourite dish, to indulge in an authentic "Ruby Mary", that's cockney for a curry! (Are cockneys an ethnic minority? Ed.)

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