Defeating terrorists

We are all part of the campaign to defeat terrorists.

As the police and security services hunt the murderers, our task is to continue our lives exactly as before. Many others have said it, but it’s vital that we work and play without letting the fear of the fanatics interfere. Otherwise, they win.

Carrying on as usual isn’t about forgetting or ignoring the tragedy of 7/7. With greater vigilance and a greater appreciation of our freedom we can learn lessons.

One lesson for me is how wonderful London is. It’s a great city partly because so many people of so many races and every religion live here together in peace. The bombers killed people from all corners of the earth, and probably from every faith. We should celebrate what they try to destroy – London’s values of tolerance and freedom.

During World War Two, my grandmother lived just outside London, but she remembers seeing the far off orange glow of the capital burning. Her fight back was taking in evacuated children, including two German Jews.

I believe the most important task now is to do the same: to reach out across race and religion. To recognise that countries and religions aren’t evil.

For when we respect our Muslim neighbour or when we appreciate London’s diversity, we defeat bombers. They want to sow hatred and divide us. So let’s do the reverse.