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I’m a big fan of people who “say the unsayable”.

Not in a Katie Hopkins way, where everything is ­contrived and designed to shock. But those who speak out against what is considered to be received opinion.

I do it myself sometimes because I don’t like toeing the line, or being told what to think. But mostly I don’t because it’s not worth the grief.

It takes a brave person and a lot of thought and integrity to do it.

So three cheers for Trevor Phillips , the former chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, for saying the ­unsayable about race and highlighting the failures of enforced multiculturalism, which he describes as a “racket” in this country.

It’s about time someone said it and he’s right.

He’s also made a documentary about it called Things We Won’t Say About Race That Are True.

Most of the points he makes are ­unarguable, yet he’s getting it in the neck from the intolerant “liberal” left who can’t accept they got it wrong.

He’s been accused of “conceding to r­acism” and having “misguided and dangerous views”. Neither is true.

But Trevor got off lightly compared with others.

(Image: Getty)

Compare his treatment with that of Nigel Farage who, credit where it’s due, started the debate about race years ago but has been persecuted for it.

Poor Nige only has to say the word “Romanian” and they mobilise the firing squad. He is no more racist than Trevor but his views are seen as extreme.

The spat between Elton John and the design duo Dolce and Gabbana over gay families and IVF babies started because Domenico Dolce said the unsayable.

He expressed a view that wasn’t the same as Elton’s.

It wasn’t personal and it wasn’t judgmental.

Elton should have shrugged and moved on.

But Elton was so affronted he issued a boycott. Thousands followed, putting Dolce and Gabbana’s business at risk.

And it is this intolerance that has to stop. People don’t like being told how to think or what to say.

We have to get used to being offended again or at least deal with it without ­bullying and boycotts.

I’m not suggesting that running around Brixton with a loudhailer using the n-word should be allowed, but people must be able to say the unsayable without fear of persecution.

We can agree to disagree, but most of all we must be realistic and grown up about it.

Read more from Carol HERE and in your Sunday People