I AM sorry that Keith Massey finds the idea of London schools where pupils speak 42 languages threatening.

My own daughter went to such a school and there was nothing frightening about it. On the contrary, it was a wonderful opportunity for children to grow up knowing that we are not all so different after all.

The children in such schools learn there are many points of view on any issue; that all cultures have interesting literature, food, music and art; and that people of different races and backgrounds have something to contribute to society.

The problems in our country stem from our lack of a written constitution. We have failed to define even to ourselves what British culture is. It is little wonder that people emigrating to our country struggle to understand British values.

Citizens appeal to the European courts on human rights issues, for example, because they cannot assert their rights in English courts because we have no constitution.

The establishment, barristers and lawyers insist we don’t need one. They make money from the absence of such a document. We are one of only a handful of nations without one. It is time we put that right.

Christian Vassie, Blake Court, Wheldrake, York