The Hindu : International : Immigrant numbers projected to grow in U.K. cities

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007
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International

Immigrant numbers projected to grow in U.K. cities

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: Britain’s racial profile is changing so rapidly as a result of the growing immigrant population that in many cities native white Britons are likely to be reduced to a minority over the next 30 years, according to new research.

Immigrants from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will outnumber their white neighbours in predominantly Asian cities such as Leicester, Birmingham, Luton and Slough.

The white population is also expected to fall in other cities including London. The proportion of white Britons will fall in “every region” of Britain by 2020, the research shows.

Professor Ludi Simpson of Manchester University, who conducted the survey based on official data, told The Daily Telegraph that Leicester, already known as “Little India” because of its large Indian population, will become the first “plural” city by 2019, followed by Birmingham five years later.

Luton and Slough, dominated by Pakistani and Bangladeshi settlers, will be the next to “fall,” but Oldham and Bradford — scenes of racial violence in 2001 — will remain white in the “foreseeable” future.

Professor Simpson said Britain’s growing diversity, which was affecting its racial profile, was more widespread than was generally assumed.

Growing diversity

“Britain’s growing diversity is clear and measurable but it is not as focussed on a few cities as many people imagine. Diversity is apparent in suburban and rural neighbourhoods too,” he said.

But Professor Simpson sought to play down propaganda about Britain being taken over by foreigners. He dismissed as “fanciful” claims that many cities had reached a “tipping point” in terms of the non-white immigrant population.

He clarified that both in Leicester and Birmingham whites remain the largest group though they will not account for a majority of the population.

Professor Simpson’s study confirms other surveys which point to the growing size of the ethnic population in a number of British towns and cities, including London. Greater London is likely to see a fall in white numbers. In 2001, whites accounted for 71 per cent of Greater London’s population but it is set to decline to 64 per cent by 2021, according to a Leeds University study .

Anti-race campaigners welcome growing cultural diversity and warn against using the issue to whip up xenophobia.

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