Obama is a conservative, as are many "senior labour folk"
Their conservationism may come with a hint of liberalism and humanity, but none of them wish to change the status-quo and all are politicians who wish to remain in power and are willing to use any means to do so.
One of the great ploys to stay in power has always been the race-card and none are adverse to use 'the threat to our way of life and our safety" to do so, so quoting them as examples of how things really are is nonsense - they go with the flow.
The greatest threat to our safety is alienating British Muslims by making them 'the enemy within' and bringing their communities on board in the fight against terrorism is one way of defeating it.
Jim Carroll