But yet it is not possible for a schoolchild to wear...or an employee to wear....'paraphernalia', so why now instruct that which is in excess to the dowry of shared cultural existence?
Are these local authorities for real? Why insult with one hand, and bless with another? Demalcrazy!!

Iain, London, UK

I completely agree with the people who've commented that this is the most nonsensical and illogical decision, by any government body, that we have heard of yet.

1) Is there anyone out there who actually agrees with this decision and can justify it?

2) What can the rest of us do to stop it

Paul, Ottawa, Canada

Um... actually, as our local East End Life helpfully informed me, councillors are to be allowed the luxury of a bottle of water in the meetings! So it's really not all bad.

George, London,

I believe that most politicians are idiots and this latest episode in Tower Hamlets just confirms that view.

David Bennington, Ruislip, UK

John Williams, I suggest you pop over to Saudi Arabia and enforce Christmas. I wish you the very best of luck.

Peter Brietbart, Colchester,

How has this country come to breed so wretched and traitorous a group of cultural grovellers who wish to destroy their own inheritance - that which many people in the world (of all races) not so long ago thought the finest civilisation ever?

James, Norwich, UK

It's people like John Williams who fuel hatred by their stupidity and give the BNP just the opening they need to promote yet more prejudice.

Pat Thornton, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

how unsurprising.

elf garnett, northampton, england

A new entry in the "You couldn't make it up" book, & further proof that the more esoteric the title, the more irrelevant the title-holder. (But can he advise on how to avoid prosecution for polygamy?)

Doesn't this tell us more about the councillors of Tower Hamlets than anything else?

Douglas Rolph, Dereham, Norfolk, England

Can you legally have compulsory fasting for all on a religious basis? Surely this is extreme discrimination against the non religious who do have exactly the same rights in law, in their non belief as the religious have in their belief.

Keith, Rayleigh, England

"So what exactly happens if an elected councillor decides to have a hamburger in the meeting?"

Orf with 'is head, I fear.

On a more serious note, these incessant panderings merely serve to further screw down the valve on the pressure cooker that is Britain.

The consequences will be dire.

ChrisR, Worcester,

The world that we used to know and wish we still did has gone officially mad.

What an annoying man John Williams must be to have as a work colleague? Stephen Pollard is right to be so bemused, so are the rest of us! John Williams needs to rethink his position what rubbish.

L Peters, Manchester, UK

This sort of thing is happening and increasing all over Europe.
Beware. Once sharia is there it will stay and the worst is come. if nobody does anything about it.

sorrente, nimes, france

Will there by reciprocity regarding respecting the various belief systems within the community?
Every member of council HAVING to behave as strict members of whatever belief system that particular date dictates?
My particular belief system demands that I eat pork washed down by a shot of vodka.

Dr Andris Lielmanis, Brampton, Canada

Let's not misuse 'liberal' as a term of abuse in the American fashion. Liberalism has nothing to do with this PC nonsense.

Robert leQuesne, Melton Mowbray, England

"Strict Muslims do not eat"

Might it be possible for you to put your point across without making generalisations?

I fast & I am Muslim, not necessarily a "strict Muslim" as you misleadingly wrote; Ramadan is 1 of 5 pillars of Islam, fasting is a basic, an essential - "moderates" fast too.

Qasim, West Midlands, UK

I wonder if Mr. Williams will be instructing people to act like Christians during Lent and Easter next year? I won't hold my breath! These morons really do take your breath away don't they? Isn't it about time they were made to face the many and varied consequences of their words and actions?

M.Robinson, London, UK

First it was Rowan Williams saying that the adoption of Sharia law was inevitable and even desirable now we have a John Williams is sending out this mushy-minded tripe. I see a sinister pattern developing............

Ivan, LONDON, UK

And the "liberal" elite are wondering why the white working class are deserting the Labour party and voting for the BNP in ever increasing numbers in places such as East London, Stoke-on-Trent, Amber Valley...

Jas, Nottingham, England

Are Tower Hamlets councillors so uncouth they eat during meetings anyway?

Richard H, London,

The story was reported differently elsewhere: it was the Muslim leader of the council who got the diktat issued according that paper.

Ib, Dalston, UK

This is truly ridiculous!
No wonder there is islamaphobia with this sort of nonsence

Matt, London,

As a child in Nigeria I was made aware of Ramadan and was taught to respect it simply by not stuffing my face with bacon rolls or the like in the middle of the day near fasting Muslims.
That's as far as it needs to go, and it's simple courtesy.

Dave, Slough,

This person should be prosecuted for misconduct in public office.

Robert leQuesne, Melton Mowbray, England

As usual the bleeding heart liberals are making silly requests of the majority so as not to offend a minority. Not once have my muslim friends been offend that I continue with my normal routine of eating during the daylight hours of Ramadan. The lord (whichever lord) save us from these P.C. morons

Nicholas Price, Oxford, Oxon

A logical conclusion to the patronising politically correct culture fostered by the liberal left and New Labour, where all are given priviliege above the native citizen and whose culture is denigrated . Williams should be fired for racisim.
In Saudi the practice of chistianity is a criminal offence

R G James, Brasschaat,

Disgusting, this man needs to be sacked, at the very least.

Carl McGuire, Leeds,

This is truly unbelievable. Religion and its rituals are a matter for personal choice and Mr. Williams is acting completely outside the rule of law and certainly outside the traditions of a Christian country. I live in Saudi Arabia and can assure you that non-Muslims are not treated similarly!

Martyn Black, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia

So what exactly happens if an elected councillor decides to have a hamburger in the meeting? Hopefully some maverick will test the system.

Jamie, Bolton, UK

You'd think electors elected councillors to tell council executives what to do rather than to be told what to do. There is a widespread notion, largely among councillors, that they are elected to do as they're told. Could we not save an awful lot of money by abolishing them?

John Ledbury, Kings Lynn, England

500 years ago, Marlowe said. "I count religion but a childish toy. There is no sin but ignorance."

Some people appear to have learned very little since that time.

Paul , northwich, england

The UK will reap this particular whirlwind within a generation and it is a delicious irony that the liberal left such as this Williams person and organisations like the BBC will be the first to be "surplus to requirements".

David Knight, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

you couldn't make it up! Just one thing missing - what's this guy's address. Just so we can all thank him.........

phil dolman , wirral, uk

This is an extreme (not too uncommon though) version of the attitudes that have plagued the UK since WWII. Anything non-English is good and anything English bad. Those who administer England (with tax payers money) are simply mentally ill. Those who govern are irrelevant.

Eddie Reader, birmingham, england

It is mind-boggling to us in the U.S. that this obsequiousness to religious viewpoints conisdered "exotic" (i.e., Islam) is held most passionately by the very persons who are derisive towards their own religious traditions. Its just another cliched example of liberal self-hatred in the guise of PC

Tamir, Washington, D.C.