Has political correctness gone too far?

The Conservative Party leader, Michael Howard, has attacked the culture of political correctness which he says is undermining British values.

He is calling people to return to common sense, decency and humanity.

Mr Howard claims that political correctness is damaging, rather than upholding, tolerance in society.

Is political correctness undermining British values? Has it prevented offence and discrimination or has it gone too far?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received:

SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Rachel B, Suffolk, England: Have Michael Howard's views on political correctness struck a chord with the public? Send us your suggestions for Have Your Say debates

Second most pointless attack in a week by the Tories. First David Davis taking umbrage with the Human Rights Act and now Michael Howard attacking PC. Too ridiculous for words. Give us policies, not gimmicks. Will they ever learn? This country is full of common sense, decency and humanity despite efforts by Thatcher and her idea of "no such thing as society" destroying it in the 80s.
Barrie, London, UK

Political correctness is destroying the freedom and free speech that helped to make this country great. Don't just alter PC - ditch it and let us all get back to saying what we mean and being what we are. If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen.
B Watson, UK

PC is way of silencing views and opinions that are disliked by the liberal-left elite that seem to run everything. All attempts to gag free speech in this way fail eventually and PC is no exception. The days of PC are numbered.
Al, London, UK

Like anything, political correctness may have, in a few instances, been used in a way that is not very useful. However, I think that it is very important indeed that we make an effort to evolve the English language in way that reflects the thinking of our time i.e. racism and sexism is not acceptable.
Dan, Exeter, UK

Whilst I think political correctness sprang from the right impulse, I do think is has probably gone too far. I remember my cousin telling me that they weren't allowed to say the word 'family' in her school, presumably in case it offended anyone experiencing family problems. I agree with other correspondents who say PC may have encouraged things in the right direction in areas such as race and homophobia etc., but I do wonder about the potential for backlash from people feeling imprisoned by PC's constraints.
John, Royston, UK

Does this mean I can say Michael Howard is a fat old Welshman with a speech defect?
Mark Blackman, London

A minority of people wield PC as a weapon in an attempt to get their own way Dave, London, UK

The original premise of political correctness was to allow society a smooth transition from active discrimination to acceptance of others. Unfortunately, a minority of people wield PC as a weapon in an attempt to get their own way. It's the same mindset that makes spurious legal claims.
Dave, London, UK

Political correctness breeds resentment against those it wishes to protect. Get rid of it and let's confront issues that matter in an adult intelligent way. Not force them underground to fester.
Carole, UK

You can tell when the bigots have lost the argument. As soon as you criticise them for being racist or homophobic, they cry "political correctness". Yawn.
Rod Devonshire, Sandhurst UK

I am a black person and recently I was in a meeting with about 15 other people. A white lady was talking about being the black sheep of the family. Another black person in the group complained about the term black being used. Now this is PC gone mad. I am black myself and see no reason why someone talking about the "black sheep" has got anything to do with my colour. It is people taking PC too far.
Mathew, Bristol

Why is political correctness instituted and championed usually by those who have never suffered discrimination or oppression? Relax, if people can speak their minds and have open debates, we wouldn't be in this horrific situation where PC rules the day. Big Brother's goal is closer today than ever...
Mel, London, UK/Washington, US

PC has reached totally stupid levels. What's the point of saying things 'wrapped up' in a way which doesn't actually express your views ? Sure, everyone should be sensitive to their audience, but common sense should prevail, not PC.
Philip, Surrey, UK

It also panders to the compensation brigade who are handed a supply of opportunities to complain John B, UK

Very few would argue that racism is a good thing. However much of political correctness appears to be based on what one group of people fears another group may find offensive. This is itself patronising in many ways, at it assumes that the group in question is unable to decide for themselves what is offensive and what is not. It also panders to the compensation brigade who are handed a supply of opportunities to complain that they have been victimised, which further alienates the majority within each group who prefer to get ahead based on their own merit.
John B, UK

Does PC exist? As a white, middle age, middle class male who feels as though he lives as the minority in this country then the answer is yes - PC has left behind the sensible objective of representing real minorities and become a vehicle for dissolving our way of life.
John, Watford, UK

In some ways it definitely has. If charity shops don't feel they can put Christmas trees and such 'Christian' symbols in their windows for fear of offending other religious groups (who more than likely don't find them offensive in any way) then yes it has. But certain forms of racism/sexism/etc aren't acceptable and should be stopped
Lianne, Manchester, England

I am white, heterosexual, married with a mortgage and two kids. Mortgaged. I am fully employed and have been since leaving school at sixteen. I have committed no crime (not even speeding or parking...honestly!) Politically I am probably slightly left of centre and although Christian, I have no extreme religious views. Pretty tolerant, I can laugh at myself and my culture and generally like to live and let live. As a consequence of the foregoing, my views are by and large, dismissed.
DJS, Tyneside UK

No amount of legislation will stop me from speaking my mind Robert Sutton, Halifax, England

I speak my mind no matter what, if people object to what I have to say they have the right to not listen to what I say. No amount of legislation will stop me from speaking my mind.
Robert Sutton, Halifax, England

Absolutely. Preventing discrimination and offence to others is of course right, but when it gets to the point that sensible debate is stifled, then something needs to be done.
Paul Phillips, Birmingham, UK

Too right it has, but I deeply distrust Mr Howard's motives for raising the subject. At best he's just trying to have a dig at Mr Blair (nothing wrong with that per se except that it's just part of the political game and doesn't help solve any of the country's problems), at worst he's trying to steer the gullible back to the far right-wing hard-line approach for which he and his fellow Tories became known in the now discredited Thatcher regime.
Phil, UK

There are much more important things to be dealt with in this country than whether nursery children should or should not play musical chairs. This really is just tabloid trash masquerading as real political argument.
John Cahill, London, UK

Has PC gone too far? Yes. If my memory serves me correctly, we have recently had a debate about whether it is offensive to fly our own national flag. And that's just one crazy example!
Samuel, Cambridge, UK

The victors are lawyers Rory Allanson, London

Political correctness is a unachievable dream, dreamt up by the delusional and the incompetently idealistic. The victors are lawyers. The losers, the decent and honourable members of society.
Rory Allanson, London

It is clear from Michael Howard's statements today and those of David Davis at the beginning of the week that the Tories' policy agenda is running on empty. Once more we have heard them construct their arguments that are based on myths, urban legend and factual inaccuracies. It all smacks of desperation with the General Election looming.
Toby Neal, Nottingham

Is it any surprise, we have a government obsessed with focus groups and committees all populated by unelected Marxist Mary Whitehouse types who love wasting taxpayers' money and telling people how to live their lives. Political correctness, it's gone mad.
Bryan, Glasgow

I was in London at the weekend which appears to be at the sharp end of the PC wedge. I was informed that the term "mixed race" has been dropped in favour of "dual heritage"!!! If these terms incorporate ever more syllables then it's not a very efficient use of speech. As a "dual heritage individual" myself - "mongrel" still does for me! All joking aside, the only reasons to scrap PC are its absence of context and its total humour bypass. Come on, you guilt-ridden white liberals - lighten up!
Karl, Leeds

I find so-called political correctness to be very patronising and mealy-mouthed. Besides which, simply changing the terms used to refer to minority groups does not change the attitudes behind those terms. People can use terms like "Asian", "Afro-Caribbean" or "physically challenged" in exactly the same demeaning ways as they can use less polite terms. There is also a feeling that the "Political correctness" argument is often used to suppress free speech by people who otherwise would not be allowed to stop people having their say.
David Hazel, Fareham, UK

I too, am fed up with having to think and double-think everything I say Dan, Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK

If this is a genuine concern of Michael Howard then I support it 100%, as I too am fed up with having to think and double-think everything I say just in case someone takes offence to the terminology rather than what is actually being said! Unfortunately though its being said by a politician so could be just playing up to what many people feel and are not accurate representations of the rest of the Conservatives policies for people of Britain.
Dan, Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK

From what I've read, Mr Howard hasn't even defined what counts as political correctness and what does not. Surely the first step to solving a problem is finding out what it really is, and until that happens, this is nothing more than cheap populism.
Gez Smith, Bristol, UK

This debate is not new - it was raging twenty or more years ago, when prejudices against women, gays, ethnic minorities etc. were far more entrenched than they are today. Mr. Howard is just flogging that tired old dream horse of the populist right - i.e. that simple, "common sense" solutions will fix all. I also wonder how Mr Howard intends to encourage common sense, decency and humanity amongst us all - should we look back to the last Tory government for inspiration?
Johnny W, Hull, UK

Due to PC, Britain has seen British values and culture reduced Mark Aplin, Gerrards Cross, UK

Thank god for the Tories! At last, a political party is tackling the insane obsession by the current Government to political correctness. Due to PC, Britain has seen British values and culture reduced. PC has contributed to an immigration crisis, increased racial disintegration, increased the 'claims' and 'compensation' culture and reduced the democratic values of the nation by reducing free speech. Let common sense prevail!
Mark Aplin, Gerrards Cross, UK

The British people must be allowed to make their own judgements on issues of conscience and morals. It is outrageous that our current authoritarian 'Nanny State' should wish to dictate, regulate and police the minutiae of our lives. It is a sign of weakness in government that they cannot trust the people to 'do the right thing'.
Graham Shelton, Oxford, England

I see the Tories latest weapon is an attack on political correctness - after 7 years in opposition that's all they've got? Next week they'll be attacking 'loony left' councils and Derek Hatton. Pathetic.
Eamonn McGuinness, Bedford, UK.

What advocates of political correctness seem to forget is that it does not change peoples attitudes it just forces them to hide their prejudices away. This then means you don't know who truly thinks what and therefore who needs to be kept at arms length. Drop the whole PC thing and let the bigots and fools expose themselves.
Willow, Warwick, UK

Political Correctness is just the right-wing phrase for the "decency and humanity" which Mr Howard wants a "return to" - as if it ever really went away. It's a cheap political shot that achieves nothing. Is he going to legislate against being sensitive to the feelings of others? Political Correctness does produce some amusing, but essentially harmless, results but it's intrinsically good and in line with British values.
Tom, Sutton, UK

This only shows the desperation of the Tory party and its leader. Political correctness "undermining British values"? What else does so, Mr Howard, human rights?
SW, Bromley, UK

Political correctness is another sure sign of the Left-Wing brigade trying to dictate to the rest of the country. It is people's attitudes to each other that need to change not the way that we word something. I agree totally with Mr Howard!
Dave Brown, Caerphilly

It just shows how out of touch the Tories and Mr Howard are Iain D Monaghan, Brighton UK

What does Mr Howard mean when he says "political correctness has gone too far"? I suspect that he means a return to good old "British values" such as "no Irish, Blacks, Gays " welcome here or anyone who is not white English and comes from Tunbridge Wells! It just shows how out of touch the Tories and Mr Howard are.

I recently attended the 50th birthday of a lesbian friend in rural Suffolk - prime Tory country - there was a mix of people of all ages sexual orientation and race at this party - this was a true reflection of Britain today not the narrow minded country Mr Howard and his ilk hark back to.
Iain D Monaghan, Brighton UK

Yes, it has gone too far. People are frightened to say what they believe, and do what they believe to be best, because of incessant judging of whether something is "PC" or not. All it results in is a society which is less honest with itself for fear of offending a usually vocal minority
Alan, Northampton UK

To have respect for each other includes acknowledging everyone's differences. Respect and tolerance has to come from within. Political correctness which is forced upon us is no more than a mask behind which all sorts of warped opinions may still hide.
Nicole Coleby, UK

Just sounds like more pointless diatribe from the conservatives to hide the fact they have no policies. Political Correctness doesn't exist - it was a construct of the media in the mid-90's. Most of the things people cite as being politically correct are just urban myths.
Giles Clinker, London, UK

I believe that the PC way of thinking is adopted by those who aren't actually the usual victims of genuine unpleasantness and offensive behaviour, but rather a set of over anxious and over guilty set of people
Paul, UK

Way way too far. It has reached the point where people are too scared to say what they think for fear of the potential consequences. We are moving away from having freedom of speech and into a world of tyranny. I believe George Orwell predicted this.
Gavin, Cardiff, Wales

People no longer feel safe voicing their opinions E Sloan, England

It has gone too far, people no longer feel safe voicing their opinions in case the "PC Police" arrive.
E Sloan, England

Common sense, decency and humanity? Didn't all these fly out of the window when Mr Howard's heroine Maggie Thatcher changed life irreversibly in the 1980s?
Andrew M, Walsall, UK

I see no point why I as an overweight person should be offended by being called fat. Jennifer, Netherlands, ex UK

I think political correctness has gone too far. The point where it goes beyond good manners is when it gets too ridiculous; I see no point why I as an overweight person should be offended by being called fat. It's the truth. Anyone who is short should not be offended by being called short. It's the truth. However the real key to preventing offence and discrimination lies in education. As with so many other things in the UK today the lack of education of so many people is what causes offence and discrimination. I knew someone who was part of an organised racist football hooligan gang, no surprise that at 21 he was completely unable to read or write yet felt so strongly about the cause he was fighting for.
Jennifer, Netherlands, ex UK

What a surprise: Howard pandering to the Daily Mail brigade by attacking political correctness. Sure, it's an easy target, and it's pretty silly sometimes, but we have to remember that it all started as a reaction to bigotry. The fact is that PC has done a lot to make racism, homophobia and other forms of intolerance socially and politically invalid, which is only to be welcomed. Or would Mr Howard prefer that we went back to the "good old days" of "No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs"?
Rob A, London, UK

Of course it's gone too far, but didn't PC start in Britain while the Tories were in power?
Fabian, UK

I'm undecided. Suggesting that "musical chairs can encourage a violent attitude." seems silly, like most games it could be played in a friendly or an unfriendly was. On the other hand avoiding sexist and racist language is definitely not silly. I don't want my daughter to grow up assuming that Doctors are all "he" and Nurses all "she".
Chris Q, Bradford, England

I don't want to be part of Michael Howard's Britain, where rudeness, ignorance and bigotry are encouraged. Peter, London

Political correctness is about understanding and considering another persons' point of view, removing unfair discrimination and not causing offence. Traditionally this was called good manners and fair play, two 'British Values' we could all be proud of. I don't want to be part of Michael Howard's Britain, where rudeness, ignorance and bigotry are encouraged.
Peter, London

PC went way too far from the very moment it was unleashed. The whole concept is a fallacy and should be rejected by everybody.
Paul B, Oxford, UK

What can you do or say that doesn't need to conform to political correctness? I'm hard pushed to think of anything.
Scott, Rochester, UK

Absolutely. Sick of it. I don't think I'm in the minority. The world has gone nuts!
D Ferguson, Stirling

I think pc has become a straight jacket for industry and commerce in general its time for a clear out the thought police lets get back to sanity
Mr T Dunning, Clowne nth Derbshire

Political correctness is a joke - and causes more problems than it will ever solve.
Chris, UK

Political Correctness actually prevents people speaking their mind, which is a very bad thing, even if you don't like their true views.
Frank Church, London, England

Its been obvious for years that political correctness - while having roots in a good idea - has gone too far, often made so by the people supporting it rather than the groups it is allegedly trying to help. Since it pushes minorities - be it ethnic, religion or culture based to the fore in a way quite unproportional to their percentage of the population here of course it damages tolerance in society. I mean Birmingham's "Winterval" rather than Christmas?! Give me a break!
Katherine, York, UK