Eternal glory of West Side Story

West Side Story is my hubby Steve’s favourite film and this week he wanted us all to sit down and have a family moment watching it together.

“It’s one of those films that has had a profound impact on me,” he said seriously.

This musical about immigration, gangs and mixed race romance in 1961 New York seemed just as culturally important in 2017 UK.

As the credits rolled, I looked around at my white British husband, our adopted Pakistani-born daughter, our mixed race son, who together with me, a British Asian woman, make up one family, happy, safe and living in the UK.

I could see what Steve meant about the film being an influence.

I think West Side Story should be a compulsory watch for every kid in this country because it really would drum home the fact that hating others for their cultural differences only leads to unhappiness.

Perhaps some of our MPs should watch it too.