A total of 40% of people do not agree that diversity benefits British culture, according to one of the broadest pieces of research examining attitudes to immigration. Members of the public involved in the study were also worried over resources and the local impact of immigrants on their communities, with 52% saying immigrants placed public services under strain. The research was led by the National Conversation on Immigration and carried out by ICM polling on behalf of the British Future think tank and anti-prejudice campaign group Hope Not Hate. Asked if “diversity is a good thing for British culture”, 60% of people agreed that it was, while 40% of respondents either disagreed or had no opinion. People who lived in cities or who were under 45 were more likely to see diversity as a positive. The research is based on the polling of 3,667 nationally representative adults, as part of an overall consultation that involved nearly 20,000 people across the UK. The report’s authors expressed concerned over the high levels of anti-Islamic prejudice that was especially prevalent in parts of the UK with smaller Muslim populations. Some respondents talked about Muslims “taking over” cities and saw followers of the religion as a monolithic group who lead a lifestyle that is incompatible with British life. There’s a Beginning at least, hopefully people are waking up.
Problems with Diversity Part 9
