Britain's race problem: what politicians aren't telling you about multiculturalism | SpectatorTV

Is the phrase ‘white privilege’ increasingly out of touch? The received mainstream wisdom has generally described Britain as a white majority society in which the non-white community are invariably oppressed, discriminated against or overlooked. But a new report from the think tank Policy Exchange paints a complicated picture of multicultural Britain, showing that, actually, the experiences of ethnic minorities can’t all be grouped into one, ‘non-white’ label. In fact, minorities such as British-Indians and the British-Chinese consistently outperform the white majority, even those who are wealthier.

In this no-holds-barred interview, the broadcaster and author Trevor Phillips talks to The Spectator’s assistant editor Cindy Yu about race in modern Britain. What do the summer’s riots tell us about the real problems of integration in this country? Is the right better at dealing with the nuances of race and class than the left? And why is it that the white majority are increasingly left behind?

// CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction
01:06 – The findings of the Policy Exchange report on 'Modern Britain'
04:55 – Integration success stories: Indian and Chinese immigrants
09:34 – The 'white privilege' lie and the Southport riots
12:45 – Why the West gets the 'best of the best' immigrants
18:25 – Labour's disintegrating migrant coalition
20:59 – The secret to Kemi Badenoch's conservative appeal
26:04 – Why liberal democracy is in crisis
31:57 – The future of minority communities in Britain

Labour's disintegration migrant coalition
Why the Tories

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[Galloway]

A white working class lad from a poor council estate has absolutely no chance in modern Britain. He has all the disadvantages of being poor, whilst having to overcome all the prejudices held by our ruling class.

[rogerflack]

Britain used to be a home. It's now a hotel where people live next to each other but not amongst each other. There has been a extended and concerted attack on our history, our culture, our identity led by institutions and then puzzlement as to why young people feel no affiliation to this country. The contract between government and the people to protect our borders has been violated on a criminal scale and ironically, the reasons to live here, have been undermined by the very people who came. Enoch Powell was right to sound the alarm, but it is too late now. The damage is irreversible.

[Sabhail_ar_Alba]

In UK, only ethnic minorities are allowed to talk about race without being branded racist.

[markchandler]

No mention that for decades the British public have consistently voted for less immigration. So the demographic change Trevor points to was not wanted, as generally it’s felt that Britain was OK before. Data shows we are not getting the best and the scale across Europe is killing the golden goose.

[louises]

Sir Trevor is wrong about the quality of people coming in. 96% are unskilled and are a burden on the taxpayer.

[ReekieReels]

I'm sick of hearing the term "White" / "White majority". Never in the history of these islands, have its native inhabitants used their skin colour as the basis for their identities; this idea is as American and imported as "blue jeans and rock n roll". The term "White" only means anything when used outside of its context (Europe); we are inside our context.

The idea that someone whose grandparents were from Bangladesh is "British Bengali", and yet I; whose ancestors have lived in these islands for thousands of years, am merely "White", is deeply disrespectful. Not only is it an absurdity, but fortunately for us, and unfortunately for you; it's an unsustainable absurdity.

[ellenoneill]

Most ethnic minorities have a 'homeland to go back to or visit'. Where will us English go when our country is gone? This is why people are upset, we have been uprooted and marginalised. I read the report and it was very well written and researched. However, the picture for the 'white British' was dismal especially on health and mortality rates. In fact, some ethnic minorities live a full 10 years longer than the white British.

[christopherbriggs]

The idea that we are getting 'the best of the best' through immigration is ludicrous. The fact that someone who is considered to be serious enough to be invited onto Spectator TV is able to say such things unchallenged by the interviewer is even more surprising.
The idea that the British people simply have to accept mass migration, along with the social mores of the migrants is untrue. I hope the British people do not roll over and accept the elite consensus.

[andykerr]

The problem is we didn't insist on English language and integration. If they chose to move here but many hold to cultural practices that are inappropriate.

[maryswale]

Just as the 'nonwhite' communities of this country are not homogenous, nor are the 'white' communities. White diversity is also rich, and precious to many of us.

[kevinbill]

We never wanted mass immigration and no one would listen. I simply don't understand what the architects of this had in mind or thought would happen. Heseltine rallied Tory opposition to Powell in 1968, yet acknowledged a Powell led Tory party would have won a historic majority in the 1970 election. Supposed moderate Roy Hattersley acknowledged that public opinion was overwhelmingly in favour of a complete ban on immigration in 1964, yet he believed it was right to ignore it. We are now living with the consequences that everyone but the decision makers knew was inevitable. We have lost our identity. "Whiteness" is a pejorative term on the left, we clearly have a two tier police, legislature and judiciary and we are within sight of becoming a minority in our own homeland. Two generations of men died for nothing between 1914 - 1945. The powers that be are now making noises about reintroducing conscription to face the Russian and Chinese "threat". Who are they kidding? What are we going to fight for? A lot of us would see Russian paratroopers as liberators

[unbabunga]

Over half of the UK will be foreign born by 2040, now that’s the most depressing thing I’ve heard in a while

[drstrangelove]

Have you looked at the latest OBR stats and such as Matt Goodwin on the economic effect on immigration Trevor?

[beetlegin]

What an unlovely turn of phrase he has for the native born English (08:46) - 'for those we now consider the majority'. The way he frames this is as if the UK is just made of transient ethnic groups in their own ghettoised cultures, butting up against each other. It all sounds rather fragmented, cold, and distant to me. But then again, the England of my parents and grand-parents generation has long since vanished.

[exiledhome]

I’m British and live in Cape Town.

People are well ahead of the curve down here. They understand that ‘diversity’ is not some sort of moral ideal but is rather a predicament that has to be fastidiously managed.

The picture that is being painted here (in very genteel language) is an incoming sectarian nightmare.

[jwsuicides]

For many years people have been pointing out, with evidence, that class is a bigger barrier to advancement than race, ethnicity, etc.

[TrezenEN]

British people have consistently voted against more immigration, and persistently voted for a drastic reduction in current levels of immigration. Successive governments for over half a century have refused to implement the will and wants of the voting population, and it appears as though it's all beginning to come to a head.

I am historically a Labour voter - mostly due to the clear economic performance difference between Labour and Conservatives, and the fact that being heavily involved in business it is important that the country has as strong an economy as is possible; and that means voting Labour, whether or not I disagree with whatever else that may entail with regards to more liberal - some may say compassionate, views, when it comes to social welfare, trade unions, and so on... but if anybody believes that Labour will be in power for a second term if they do not get a firm grip on enforcing integration, and achieves a notable reduction in immigration levels over the next five years, then you simply do not understand the growing anger amongst the British population.


I do not say this lightly, because I believe that it would have pretty drastic consequences for the British economy, but Reform are more than a fringe party, and Reform coming to power is not just a pipe dream.

[jimthompson]

With over four million here from the religion of peace, within two generations they’ll be over a third of the population. Can anyone see remigration??? We’ve already lost. We just can’t see it yet. What a shame, we were great once.

[nickelmouse]

Man, his smugness regarding the demographic time bomb is insufferable.

[firmbutton]

When a Jew, a muslim and a gay hair dresser can share the same barber shop on a typical high-street, i will consider them integrated and showing their British values.