The home secretary David Blunkett sparked controversy today by calling on people from the North of England to 'speak English' while at home.

The call comes in an essay written by Blunkett for a new book about Britishness. In it he writes: "For the younger generation of northerners, switching on their tvs and seeing people speaking proper English then having to speak a different language at home is mentally damaging and, in my opinion, causes schizophrenia."

He adds: "In as many as 80% of Manchester homes, proper English is not spoken."

The home secretary's remarks have not gone down well in the North of England, where there is a large northern community. Dean Powell, spokesman for the Equal Rights For Geordies Civil Action Group said: "Mansa reetars aye. Ooshar an habben non tellinoz whadoo like?"

BLUNKETT: "Mansa reetars."

However, not all the reaction to Blunkett's essay has been negative. Authorities in Saudi Arabia have chosen to adopt a similar policy after reading the piece. From next month, all British expats who have settled in the region will be forced to speak Arabic in their homes. Failure to comply with the new law will result in offenders' heads being cut off.

[Source: http://www.urbanreflex.com/sep20_02/blunkett.html]