There is the old saying that is easy to become a parent but much harder keeping it up.This probably holds true more so today than in earlier times.

The pressures on parents are immense, their rights over their own children have been progressively eroded, yet it is they who will be blamed should their offspring not conform to expectations.

Most recently Muslim parents were asked by the home secretary, John Reid, to be more proactive in preventing their children from becoming radicalised. Presumably, if they fail in this newly added patriotic duty they will be held exclusively responsible for the proliferation of violence and terrorism in the world.

Reid chose his target well. Muslim parents are dedicated to their families. The proportion of one-parent families amongst them is very low compared to the over 25% percent in the general population. Whilst nationwide the number of children born out of wedlock is increasing, most Muslim children are still born into stable married homes.

In many cases Muslim families have resisted the temptation to better their material status by both parents going to work. They receive no government incentives for their sacrifice. The home secretary must have rightly thought that if anybody can change the young generation of Brits from becoming hooligans or, God forbid, terrorists, it would be the Muslim parents.

Reid’s address to his Muslim audience was not well received, indeed some found it insulting. But maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he is just a poor communicator. Maybe he means well and knows that only Muslims can save Britain now.

In his wisdom he did not address non-Muslim parents asking them to prevent their children from becoming indoctrinated or even convert to Islam. He knows they would be helpless in the face of such a prospect.

Maybe he knows that the only hope for the country lies with the Muslim parents and their tireless commitment to provide their children with good education and sound morals.