COMMUNITIES Secretary Eric Pickles sparked a backlash yesterday after ordering that a letter be sent to over 1,000 “Islamic leaders” urging them to oppose extremists.

Muslim Council of Britain deputy secretary-general Harun Khan said he would be demanding answers from the minister over a passage suggesting that its recipients have a “responsibility” to show how “faith in Islam can be part of British identity.”

Mr Khan retorted: “Is Mr Pickles seriously suggesting, as do members of the far right, that Muslims and Islam are inherently apart from British society?”

Tory leader David Cameron was forced to intervene in the row yesterday, claiming that the letter was “reasonable, sensible and moderate.”