Www.ippr.org Integrating Migrants What are the strengths and weaknesses of the British multicultural model? Dr. Sarah Kyambi Research Fellow Migration,

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Integrating Migrants

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the British

multicultural model?

Dr. Sarah KyambiResearch Fellow

Migration, Equalities and Citizenship Team

www.ippr.org

What is the British multiculturalist model?

• Race relations model• Multiculturalism as respect for

difference often a feature of public policy

• However, no legal/constitutional commitment to multiculturalism

• Legal commitment to non-discrimination and promotion of race equality

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History of immigration to the UK

• Main inflow: post-war immigration 1950’s initially mainly Caribbean, then outstripped by South Asian immigrants

• Successive immigration control legislation 1962, 1971, 1981• Continuing family immigration 1970s and 1980s

• 1990s characterised by increasing asylum related immigration• Increasing restriction of asylum provisions through legislation:

1993, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2004

• Move to a managed migration system encouraging targeted labour immigration through various skills and sector based schemes

• Five Year Strategy- to introduce a points system for labour migration, sponsors and bonds, independent skills advisory body and initially temporary refugee protection

Five Year strategy: http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm64/6472/6472.pdf

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Race Relations Legislation

• Early legislation: 1965, 1969 prohibited discrimination in employment, training, education and service provision

• 1976 Act established Commission for Race Equality with duties to work towards elimination of discrimination, to promote race equality, review 1976 Act operation and exercise strategic powers of enforcement

• 2000 Race Relations (Amendment) Act: extends duties in race equality legislation to all public authorities. Unlawful for public authorities to discriminate in the exercise of their functions on grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin. Imposes positive duties to promote race equality. Police services come under jurisdiction of race equality legislation

• Proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights 2009.

To integrate different anti-discrimination bodies

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British Multiculturalism in Context

• 2001: 8.3% (4.9million) of population was foreign born

• Of these 53% white. Then Indian, Pakistani, Black African, Black Caribbean, Chinese, Bangladeshi.

• 2001: 7.9% (4.6 million) of population was an ethnic minority.

• Of these Indian 22%, Then Pakistani, Mixed, Black Caribbean, Black African, Bangladeshi.

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Total migration to the UK

Total migration to and from the UK

-500

-400

-300

-200

-100

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

19

66

19

68

19

70

19

72

19

74

19

76

19

78

19

80

19

82

19

84

19

86

19

88

19

90

19

92

19

94

19

96

19

98

20

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20

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Mig

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ts (

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)

Inflow Outflow Balance

Source: International Passenger Survey and ONS

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Map of people born outside British Isles, 2001

non British Isles 01 172 - 1000 1001 - 2000 2001 - 3000 3001 - 4000 4001 - 5000 5001 - 7500 7501 - 1000010001 - 1500015001 - 2000020001 - 32128

WestYorkshire

Manchester

Birmingham

London

Total non British Isles: 4,301,280

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Map of change in people born outside

British Isles, 1991-2001non British Isles 91-01

-4445 - -1 0 - 250 251 - 500 501 - 1000 1001 - 2000 2001 - 3000 3001 - 4000 4001 - 6000 6001 - 8000 8001 - 15081

WestYorkshire

Manchester

Birmingham

London

Net change: 1,147,905

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Migration to the UK by citizenship

Net migration by citizenship

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

19

75

19

77

19

79

19

81

19

83

19

85

19

87

19

89

19

91

19

93

19

95

19

97

19

99

20

01

20

03

Mig

ran

ts (

tho

us

an

ds

)

British EU Old Commonwealth

New Commonwealth Other foreign

Source: International Passenger Survey and ONS

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Immigrants and Employment

Employment status of working age population 1994 and 2004

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1994 2004 1994 2004 1994 2004Per

cen

tag

e o

f w

ork

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ag

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op

ula

tio

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In employment Unemployed Inactive

Source: Labour Force Survey

British Isles born 'Settled' foreign born 'New' foreign born

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Employment gap by UK regions

-40

-35

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

Nor

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Nor

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N.Ir

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1994 employment gap 2004 employment gap

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New Immigrant Communities People earning less than ½ UK median, 00-

04.

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Nor

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British Isles born 'Settled' foreign born 'New' foreign born

Source: Labour Force Survey

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Public Opinion in Britain

• Rising concern about immigration and race relations

• British Attitudes to immigrants consistently more negative than EU average even when more positive than other Europeans about racial and cultural diversity

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Public opinion

Source: MORI, 2005; http://www.mori.com/polls/trends/issues12.shtml

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Pressures on the British Model

• Reasons:

• 9/11 and 2001 riots in North of England prompted a change in integration policy

• Public attitudes to immigration and asylum and the prominence of immigration as an election issue

• Diversity vs. Solidarity debate -is there a liberal dilemma?

• Recognition vs. Equality debate -is multiculturalism dead?

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Pressures on the British Model

• Consequences:

• Emergence of policy to promote social cohesion

• Increased emphasis on fostering belonging and promoting core values

• Changes to citizenship policy• Focus on equality outcomes rather than

identity politics• Increasing use of integration indicators-

useful in trying to be more objective about outcomes and determining what it is we want integration for

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Current integration policy in the UK

• Most recent Government integration strategy ‘Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society’ has two main foci:

a. Reducing race inequalitiesb. Fostering community cohesion

• In addition, the Refugee Integration Strategy emphasises achieving full potential, contributing to communities, and accessing services

1. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs4/race_improving_opport.pdf 2. http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/laws___policy/refugee_integration0/a_national_strategy.html

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Key Issues

• British integration policy becoming less about race and more about immigration?

• As immigration is changing, integration policy needs a more complex model than black/ white or black/white/Asian

• Will the promoting of equal life chances work?

• Government recognition that the UK needs immigration yet how to persuade a reluctant public?