[SingleMan]

"since multiculturalism is the principle of different cultures coexisting harmoniously and in tolerance of each other within one nation, there is no part of Blair's speech that actually goes against that principle."

That's not what most people understand by 'multiculturalism'. You've made a statement which most reasonable people couldn't disagree with, not a definition of multiculturalism.

In Canada multiculturalism is a legally defined term (potentially)entitling members of a minority community to financial support for the purpose of perpetuating their culture.

And actually, "different cultures...coexisting...in tolerance of each other" DOES seem to be at issue here. Wearing the veil is part of some Muslims cultures. If the British or other governments is no longer prepared to "tolerate" that, don't you see how it changes multiculturalism?

Let's see the new definition of multiculturalism if cultural practices like the veil/burka become illegal:

"multiculturalism is the principle of different cultures coexisting (relatively) harmoniously and in tolerance of each other within one nation, with said tolerance existing within certain limits imposed by the cultural and legal standards of the majority culture therefore forbidding such cultural practices as burka wearing, FGM, Muti, Sharia, etc."

Legally it would be quite a change. Which definition of multiculturalism is Blair's speech more consistent with, yours or mine?