SIR – The Quality of Living Index that shows Bradford as having the lowest quality of life of any major UK city is sadly no surprise.

Some local politicians talk about the bad PR these indexes trigger, discouraging businesses from the city.

But the stark facts around youth unemployment, under-employment and the feeling of isolation many in the community feel, is nothing new, detailed in report after report.

The sense of hopelessness is physically embodied in the city with the ongoing delays to Westfield’s Broadway shopping centre – that beacon of progress and hope that has become something of a mirage, never materialising.

There is a huge BME community in Bradford, and I have been saying for a long time to our mainstream public, private and the third sector institutions that they need to employ ethnic minorities at senior level. Instead of being involved in any decision-making, they are left with low-paid menial jobs.

The Government needs to act urgently. Bradford needs intensive support to get it out of the vicious circle of deprivation. The local community need to be involved in decision making. Unless this turns around, younger generations will continue feeling isolated with no glimmer of hope.

Dr Mohammed Ali OBE, CEO of QED-UK, Vicar Lane, Bradford