Racial harmony

IT IS all too easy for migration to this country to be viewed as a cause for conflict, anguish and party political bickering. Perhaps occasionally, however, the way in which Britain has coped with the present unprecedented level of mass immigration should be seen as a remarkable achievement.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd May 2013, 09:55 BST

It is doubtful, for example, whether many of Britain’s European neighbours, where racial discrimination and racially aggravated violence can be all too common, would have successfully absorbed the level of non-white immigration that Britain has undergone during the past half-century.

In this country, the racist politics of the far Right remain very much a minority interest and stand in stark contrast to the warmth, tolerance and good humour with which the majority of Britons have reacted to the tumultuous changes in the ethnic make-up of society. Tolerance, however, is a virtue to be cherished rather than stretched. And the changes forecast over the next few decades would surely be a severe test of this traditional British virtue.

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According to Oxford University’s Migration Observatory, if current trends continue, white Britons will be in a minority before 2070 as this country becomes one of the world’s most ethnically diverse nations.

A change of this magnitude would be truly momentous and it is not racist to 
express concern at its 
social and economic implications.

The level of integration in British society may be considerable compared with other countries, but it is certainly not without its problems. If Britain’s relative harmony is to be maintained and properly nurtured, it is vital that future migration is managed extremely carefully.

Related topics:Britain