Is it true that Britain has become more racist?

Journalists like their stories to fit into an accepted current narrative. With domestic politics dominated by concerns over Europe and immigration, and the rise of the far-right elsewhere in the EU, it is understandable that editors are alert to evidence of rising racism in Britain.

But today's figures are not evidence of rising racism. In fact, if anything, the trend is of flat or declining levels of self-reported racial prejudice.

The statistics come from the annual British Social Attitudes survey which, since 1983, has interviewed one or two thousand people and asked if they are "very prejudiced", "a little bit prejudiced" or "not prejudiced at all" against people of other races.

Adding together the "very" (3%) and "a little" (27%) figures from this year's survey produces a total of 30% - up from last year (26%) but well below the year before (38%).

Yes, the current figure is higher than the lowest figures ever recorded (25% in 2000 and 2001) but then you could equally argue it is well below the high point of 38% recorded in 1987 and 2011.

Tommy Monk wrote:I'm sure most of those said a little, and no more prejudiced than against anyone else they didn't know.
The politicians and media here like to brand anyone who doesnt agree with mass immigration and open door EU as racist or bigot or xenaphobe etc.
We are the most tolerant people on the planet and have people here from every nation in the world.

Tommy Monk wrote:Point being very few indeed would have said very prejudiced, and probably for very good reason because of previous bad experiences.
The others shown probably no more prejudiced than they would be against anyone else they didn't know and the rest not at all.
That is not the same as being happy with numbers of immigrants or happy/wanting multiculturalism.

Didge wrote:

Tommy Monk wrote:Point being very few indeed would have said very prejudiced, and probably for very good reason because of previous bad experiences.
The others shown probably no more prejudiced than they would be against anyone else they didn't know and the rest not at all.
That is not the same as being happy with numbers of immigrants or happy/wanting multiculturalism.

No what happens is people become susceptible to fear arguments, they read anti inflammatory articles about immigrants and as polls suggest well over exaggerate views on immigration based again off poor perceptions. Also extremist events can see a rise in prejudice views.
The reality is by far the majority of the population at least 2 thirds are not prejudice and that speaks volumes about how Great many of the British people are

victorisnotamused wrote:

Didge wrote:

No what happens is people become susceptible to fear arguments, they read anti inflammatory articles about immigrants and as polls suggest well over exaggerate views on immigration based again off poor perceptions. Also extremist events can see a rise in prejudice views.
The reality is by far the majority of the population at least 2 thirds are not prejudice and that speaks volumes about how Great many of the British people are

Or...conversely how stupid they are....dont forget a vast number of people are in the "cant be arsed to think about things like that" group. As long as they have go FHM or "Heat " to read  and jeremy kyle to watch....they dont give a monkeys...

Tommy Monk wrote:Very true dodge, with most of those who said a little prejudiced are probably just like that with anyone they don't know.
With others who said very probably good reasons through bad experiences.
So vast majority of British people not prejudiced at all, or racist.....
But.....
http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/01/07/britain-immigration-survey-idINDEEA0603G20140107
So why are the majority of good British people being ignored...???

Tommy Monk wrote:I'm sure most of those said a little, and no more prejudiced than against anyone else they didn't know.
The politicians and media here like to brand anyone who doesnt agree with mass immigration and open door EU as racist or bigot or xenaphobe etc.
We are the most tolerant people on the planet and have people here from every nation in the world.

Didge wrote:

Tommy Monk wrote:Very true dodge, with most of those who said a little prejudiced are probably just like that with anyone they don't know.
With others who said very probably good reasons through bad experiences.
So vast majority of British people not prejudiced at all, or racist.....
But.....
http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/01/07/britain-immigration-survey-idINDEEA0603G20140107
So why are the majority of good British people being ignored...???

Wanting less immigration is not the same as no immigration, which is your view, thus again most people want to see sensible levels to help also being able to build infrastructures to keep up with levels, hence why most people want controlled immigration and is not based off prejudice  

victorisnotamused wrote:

Didge wrote:


Wanting less immigration is not the same as no immigration, which is your view, thus again most people want to see sensible levels to help also being able to build infrastructures to keep up with levels, hence why most people want controlled immigration and is not based off prejudice  

what part of "building more infrastructure is actually part of the problem people have" do you not see....

tell you what didge....I dunno where you live BUT...hows about we build ALL that infrastructure down your end of the woods...you know the 3-5 new TOWNS that are needed/going to be needed....YOU can have all these friendly nice immigrants, learn to speak 101 languages, and as an added bonus you get more "multiculturalism" than you ever had...
YOU can have all those great schools where english is the minority language...where your kids get bullied for taking easter eggs and easter chicks into school...
hows about it......Me??? I prefer to keep my bedroom view od green fields and woods....not yet more brick tarmac and concrete...

Ben_Reilly wrote:I think it's interesting to look at that graph and note the wild spikes over the past four years. What do you think causes that? (anybody)

Didge wrote:

victorisnotamused wrote:


what part of "building more infrastructure is actually part of the problem people have" do you not see....

tell you what didge....I dunno where you live BUT...hows about we build ALL that infrastructure down your end of the woods...you know the 3-5 new TOWNS that are needed/going to be needed....YOU can have all these friendly nice immigrants, learn to speak 101 languages, and as an added bonus you get more "multiculturalism" than you ever had...
YOU can have all those great schools where english is the minority language...where your kids get bullied for taking easter eggs and easter chicks into school...
hows about it......Me??? I prefer to keep my bedroom view od green fields and woods....not yet more brick tarmac and concrete...

Happy to have more houses not "more" houses you dummy....ALL 1 million or whatever it is built as have been the case over the last decade here where I live, and happy that people come to live here because I do not suffer fears and aversions that you have, so your argument just fell flat on its face and shows yet again you play on child like fears.  spoken like a good obedient townie
Even the rest of your post is based again on now if they are foreign their first language is not going to be English but it will be their second language, shit call the Police, the horror

So you dont care that your kids education is "restricted" because of the "language needs of others". you wouldnt care if they are the disadvantaged minority because english is the minority language....

Pathetic and a very immature reply from you Victor

Fortunately YOUR opinion of me is irrelevant, since your opinions are not exactly held in great esteem except by the sychophantic few....Ben...JD...erm.........nope...thats it...

victorisnotamused wrote:

Didge wrote:


Happy to have more houses not "more" houses you dummy....ALL 1 million or whatever it is built as have been the case over the last decade here where I live, and happy that people come to live here because I do not suffer fears and aversions that you have, so your argument just fell flat on its face and shows yet again you play on child like fears.  spoken like a good obedient townie
Even the rest of your post is based again on now if they are foreign their first language is not going to be English but it will be their second language, shit call the Police, the horror

So you dont care that your kids education is "restricted" because of the "language needs of others". you wouldnt care if they are the disadvantaged minority because english is the minority language....

Pathetic and a very immature reply from you Victor

Didge wrote:

victorisnotamused wrote:

How will my kids education be restricted, again a poor fear argument, in fact it seems your whole sad existence seems to be led by fear, because the evidence suggests in this country we have one of the best education systems in the world.
Again you are basing poor assumptions where I see the benefit of multicultural classes, where they are going to be taught in the main in English, which shows again how immature your arguments are.
So again your arguments stem of nothing more than being a selfish spoilt brat who never learnt the lesson which we teach many children which is one to share

eddie wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:I think it's interesting to look at that graph and note the wild spikes over the past four years. What do you think causes that? (anybody)

Interestingly, in 2001, the spike is at it's lowest just after 9/11.
I find that, quite odd.

victorisnotamused wrote:

Didge wrote:



How will my kids education be restricted, again a poor fear argument, in fact it seems your whole sad existence seems to be led by fear, because the evidence suggests in this country we have one of the best education systems in the world.
Again you are basing poor assumptions where I see the benefit of multicultural classes, where they are going to be taught in the main in English, which shows again how immature your arguments are.
So again your arguments stem of nothing more than being a selfish spoilt brat who never learnt the lesson which we teach many children which is one to share

and I give a rats arse??? what YOU think?

Joy Division wrote:

eddie wrote:

Interestingly, in 2001, the spike is at it's lowest just after 9/11.
I find that, quite odd.

Yeah ...that is odd eds, I can remember when the towers went down, that I seemed to be hearing some racist comments from passengers in my taxi..not a lot, but it was becoming more obvious a trend was forming.

eddie wrote:

Joy Division wrote:


Yeah ...that is odd eds, I can remember when the towers went down, that I seemed to be hearing some racist comments from passengers in my taxi..not a lot, but it was becoming more obvious a trend was forming.

I can't understand why the spike is so low in 2001?
Doesn't make sense.

Ben_Reilly wrote:Think there's probably something to the notion that the low percentages recorded in the mid 90s to early 2000s could have been due to the economy being better.

smelly_bandit wrote:No it is not true

What is true is cause and effect, action and reaction

When ethnic group A is trampled,abused,ridiculed, seen their cultures and traditions vilified and otherwise punished to make way for other ethnic groups

Then it is only nature that ethnic group A will begin to resent the other ethnic groups, resentment will turn to anger and anger to hate

Simple human nature

Race has nothing to do with it

smelly_bandit wrote:No it is not true

What is true is cause and effect, action and reaction

When ethnic group A is trampled,abused,ridiculed, seen their cultures and traditions vilified and otherwise punished to make way for other ethnic groups

Then it is only nature that ethnic group A will begin to resent the other ethnic groups, resentment will turn to anger and anger to hate

Simple human nature

Race has nothing to do with it

Didge wrote:

smelly_bandit wrote:No it is not true

What is true is cause and effect, action and reaction

When ethnic group A is trampled,abused,ridiculed, seen their cultures and traditions vilified and otherwise punished to make way for other ethnic groups

Then it is only nature that ethnic group A will begin to resent the other ethnic groups, resentment will turn to anger and anger to hate

Simple human nature

Race has nothing to do with it

Yes cause and affect of hate speech by those who are prejudice who play upon fears real or imagined.

So it has more to do with economic down turns and how people look to seek to blame others, as seen by the graph.

Didge wrote:

smelly_bandit wrote:No it is not true

What is true is cause and effect, action and reaction

When ethnic group A is trampled,abused,ridiculed, seen their cultures and traditions vilified and otherwise punished to make way for other ethnic groups

Then it is only nature that ethnic group A will begin to resent the other ethnic groups, resentment will turn to anger and anger to hate

Simple human nature

Race has nothing to do with it

Yes cause and affect of hate speech by those who are prejudice who play upon fears real or imagined.

So it has more to do with economic down turns and how people look to seek to blame others, as seen by the graph.

eddie wrote:

Joy Division wrote:


Yeah ...that is odd eds, I can remember when the towers went down, that I seemed to be hearing some racist comments from passengers in my taxi..not a lot, but it was becoming more obvious a trend was forming.

I can't understand why the spike is so low in 2001?
Doesn't make sense.

Didge wrote:

victorisnotamused wrote:

and I give a rats arse??? what YOU think?

Exactly proving you are a selfish wally, thank goodness many do not share such poor views and actually care about humanity, clearly evolution went somewhat wrong with you

eddie wrote:But smelly, going by your logic, wouldn't 2001 onwards and the year or so just after 9/11, have shown a rather big spike?

victorisnotamused wrote:

Didge wrote:


Exactly proving you are a selfish wally, thank goodness many do not share such poor views and actually care about humanity, clearly evolution went somewhat wrong with you

no...proving I dont give a rats arse WHAT your opinion is since it is invalid and has little or no support.....apart from ben and your pet weasle JD.....

smelly_bandit wrote:

eddie wrote:But smelly, going by your logic, wouldn't 2001 onwards and the year or so just after 9/11, have shown a rather big spike?

No

A single incident doesn't normally result is widespread anger, especially when a society is known for its tolerance

Repeated patterns however result in a backlash

And it doesn't need to be things like 9/11 or 7/7, it's more a lot of small things adding up with big ones thrown in when the pots already simmering

Sticking up signs saying "this is a Muslim area no gays/dogs/alcohol allowed"

Having a British soldiers head hacked off in London

It's an ongoing social, moral and cultural attack against the British/European by foreigners/Muslims that will result in anger and hatred

And why not??

How fucking tolerant are we expected to be??

Vicar of Dibley wrote:

smelly_bandit wrote:

No

A single incident doesn't normally result is widespread anger, especially when a society is known for its tolerance

Repeated patterns however result in a backlash

And it doesn't need to be things like 9/11 or 7/7, it's more a lot of small things adding up with big ones thrown in when the pots already simmering

Sticking up signs saying "this is a Muslim area no gays/dogs/alcohol allowed"

Having a British soldiers head hacked off in London

It's an ongoing social, moral and cultural attack against the British/European by foreigners/Muslims that will result in anger and hatred

And why not??

How fucking tolerant are we expected to be??

i do agree with this smelly 100%

Tommy Monk wrote:Truth is, if a white Brit was in a relationship with an Asian/Pakistani, it wouldn't be the white Brit who would be keeping it secret from their family for fears of of trouble/repercussions/violence/threats/grief etc.


The British family would be more than happy.



So who's the racists?

smelly_bandit wrote:

eddie wrote:But smelly, going by your logic, wouldn't 2001 onwards and the year or so just after 9/11, have shown a rather big spike?

No

A single incident doesn't normally result is widespread anger, especially when a society is known for its tolerance

Repeated patterns however result in a backlash

And it doesn't need to be things like 9/11 or 7/7, it's more a lot of small things adding up with big ones thrown in when the pots already simmering

Sticking up signs saying "this is a Muslim area no gays/dogs/alcohol allowed"

Having a British soldiers head hacked off in London

It's an ongoing social, moral and cultural attack against the British/European by foreigners/Muslims that will result in anger and hatred

And why not??

How fucking tolerant are we expected to be??

Joy Division wrote:

victorisnotamused wrote:


no...proving I dont give a rats arse WHAT your opinion is since it is invalid and has little or no support.....apart from ben and your pet weasle JD.....

Your consistently quite a rude fucker aren't you Vic...isn't Ben a weasle too?,or is it just me?

smelly_bandit wrote:

eddie wrote:But smelly, going by your logic, wouldn't 2001 onwards and the year or so just after 9/11, have shown a rather big spike?

No

A single incident doesn't normally result is widespread anger, especially when a society is known for its tolerance

Repeated patterns however result in a backlash

And it doesn't need to be things like 9/11 or 7/7, it's more a lot of small things adding up with big ones thrown in when the pots already simmering

Sticking up signs saying "this is a Muslim area no gays/dogs/alcohol allowed"

Having a British soldiers head hacked off in London

It's an ongoing social, moral and cultural attack against the British/European by foreigners/Muslims that will result in anger and hatred

And why not??

How fucking tolerant are we expected to be??