DAVID Cameron's promise of £20m fund to teach Muslim women in the UK to speak English has been welcomed in East Lancashire but his link of poor language skills leading to extremism has been questioned.

Former Home Secretary Jack Straw, Blackburn Cathedral dialogue development officer Anjum Anwar and Lancashire Council Mosques chairman Abdul Hamid Qureshi said the Prime Minister had made a mistake linking the two.

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Pendle Tory MP Andrew Stephenson backed his boss over the connection between poor English, isolation and radicalisation.

Mr Cameron said while there was no proven 'causal connection' between the two, he said improving Muslim women's language skills would tackle segregation helping them resist the lure of extremism.

He suggested failing to learn English could affect visas for wives wanting to settle in the UK.

The government said 22 per cent of Muslim women living here speak little or no English.

Mrs Anwar said: "I am all in favour of education for women and improving their language skills although the government cut the money for courses in English as second language.

"I do not agree with conflating this with radicalisation.

"My mother did not speak English when she came but was no extremist and brought up five graduate children."

Former deputy Lancashire Police Commissioner Ibby Masters said: "I question the 22 per cent figure for Muslim women who do not speak English as too high.

"He is right to give more money to help them learn the language but has made a mistake linking it to extremism.

"The extremists discovered in East Lancashire appear to have good English."

Burnley-based Mr Qureshi said: "I am in favour of improving English lessons for Muslim women but he has made a mistake liking this to radicalisation."

Mr Stephenson said: "This is the right think to do.

"We have a problem with Muslim women without good English in East Lancashire, which leads to segregation and isolation putting them at radicalisation."

For Blackburn MP Mr Straw said: "It good to help more people learn English but a mistake to link it radicalisation.

"Most home-grown extremists seem pretty well educated."