Trevor Phillips, leader of the Commission for Racial Equality has warned that Britain is becoming more racially divided. This is the second page of your comments.
The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:
 |  Does the Government have a role to play in trying to prevent this?  |
"Ghettos" populated along racial lines are not only being established in poorer areas - there are clear indications that areas populated along racial divides are being established in much richer areas. In the leafy, fairly prosperous outer London borough I live in, the trickle of "white flight" that has been taking place in recent years is rapidly turning into a mass exodus as long established white families move to the south and west of the country en masse. In 10 years time I have no doubt a white face walking the streets here will be unusual. The key question is does the Government have a role to play in trying to prevent this or is it an issue that it should stand well clear off, leaving communities to decide themselves where they wish to settle?
Dave, London I agree there are ghettos in Manchester, But forcing white schools to take on ethnic minorities is not the answer, In Chorlton there is an "Islamic High School For Girls". How can we have an Islamic High school for girls, (which is only for Islam followers) and force schools that have the majority of white kids to take on ethnic minorities? Why not just stop them having their own schools as it's things like this which does separate them from the rest of society?
Steve, Manchester, UK
I think the whole idea of actively encouraging Muslim only schools or indeed any "one race" school to be totally unacceptable. This approach can only serve to further separatist ideas and mistrust between all human beings who will continue to feel that certain "groups" are getting more benefits than others in the UK. It's clear that adults from all races in the UK have lost the plot and the only possible hope for this country and indeed the whole world is if we stop teaching our kids to mistrust Muslims or Christians or Jews or blacks.
Alan Lever, Oldham, UK
If people have different places of worship and festivals then it is natural that they would want to live near each other and their place of worship. 20 years ago I was the only Jewish girl in my whole year at school. Now I live near Jewish friends. I still enjoy the company of people from all backgrounds and feel enriched by diversity. But it's great to be able to invite friends round to lunch on festivals or for dinner on the Sabbath,
Judy, London
Trevor Phillips needs to make his mind up a couple of months ago he said schools should have separate classes for Black/White and Asian kids and now he's saying the opposite. Unfortunately I have very little respect for Mr Phillips and he certainly doesn't represent me, or any of my Asian mates, most of them think he's a joke and needs to be replaced by someone a bit more in touch with what's going on.
Navtej, Essex, UK
| It is a celebration of multicultural UK |
I went to a Catholic school where there were children whose parents were from all over Europe. Although this was a multicultural school, it worked and young people from different cultures mixed well. What brought us all together was our common faith. I now live in Luton and there is a community area where no white people go due to fear of the Muslims who live in that area. All I hear is how you shouldn't go there, but I've been there and I think it is the best part of the town, filled with shops and restaurants which show colour and diversity. It is a celebration of multicultural UK.
James, Luton Anyone who doesn't think that ghettos already exist in this country is very short sighted. What gets me is that a lot of British people who don't live anywhere near them like to embrace them as part of our "wonderful multicultural society", my message to them, go and try walking round one of them on your own at night, then you'll soon change your mind.
Russell, Wales
It's not as if middle class white professionals don't live in leafy affluent ghettos. If people from similar backgrounds choose to live in the same area, what, exactly, is the problem with that? It's no business of Mr Phillips to tell people where they should or shouldn't live or go to school and it's hardly as if Mr Phillips has any firm views on the matter as a few months ago he was calling for racially segregated schooling.
Tom, London
When our daughter was moving to secondary school we thought of sending her to a school with a lot of Asian children. But were put off by the local community leaders pursuing a militant Islamic agenda. Such does not help us to embrace a different culture and naturally makes us cling to our own.
Geoff, Sheffield
| Live and let live without interfering bodies like the CRE |
Is it possible to get this into a little perspective? Mr Phillips lives and works in London and is London-centric (his comments on Radio 4 today were all about "London boroughs"). It may come as a surprise to him that MOST people in Britain do not live within the M25 and our experience of non-whites is that they make up around 6% of the UK population; they might be over-represented in his little world (and in a few pockets throughout England) but many people in the UK do not see "non-white" people from day in to day out and it is, therefore, not high on our political agenda (unlike Whitehall and the CRE where it seems to be No.1). Live and let live without interfering bodies like the CRE (who often pursue their own agendas) sticking their unwanted noses in!
Richard, Sandy, Beds How do we change the path we are on now? Multiculturalism is a failed experiment, after 7/7 that is an obvious truth - hence the hand wringing from the leading exponents of that policy. We should accept that the only culture the Government promotes in the UK is British culture, then no matter where you live in the UK we will have one standard identity to go with and compliment all our various communities roots and identities. How can we expect immigrants to respect and aspire to British culture when the Government actually seems ashamed of it?
Ian Michie, Whitwick, Leicestershire
I read recently that certain white schools were to be encouraged to take on more children of ethnic minorities. Well what about Muslim schools being encouraged to take a more diverse section of children into their schools? Why is it always so heavily one sided. Integration is a two way street!!
Louie, London, UK
This is an astonishing statement to come from the Commission of Racial Equality as it can only be seen as an admission of defeat. Yes, there are ghettoes in this country but as a native Londoner, I can tell Mr Phillips that there always have been ghettoes. They just become less obvious as people get wealthier and claim their stake in Britain. The real problem today is that there is more poverty and inequality than at any time since 1945. That is the problem, that is the issue that needs to be addressed and this government has utterly failed in that task.
Nigel Wilson, Buckingham
Successive governments have reinforced segregation through their policies which make it acceptable for migrants to this country to continue utilising their language and customs to the cost of the indigenous population. Latterly some of the issues this has led to are being addressed, such as forced marriage, but this may take a couple of generations before it comes to an end. Part of the citizenship process will also help integration, as well as the will from migrants to become fully fledged UK citizens.
Michael York, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands
While growing up I saw very few black or Asian faces in my area. It was only when I went to a university with a 2/3rds foreign intake that I learned to live with and respect other cultures. The key to this whole issue is education and the ending of the systematic religious segregation of our children. One school for all, supplemented with any religious schooling you like outside the state system. This will prevent the barriers being created early in life which are so difficult to break down later.
Alan, Blackpool, UK
Blackburn has perhaps some of the largest Asian ghettos anywhere. Most of it caused by poverty, a lack of English language skills and racist attitudes on both sides. The educated youth however, want to break out of these areas, but are unable to mix with non-Asians. There is too large a cultural divide. Parents need to encourage their children to experience many cultures, not just the one they already belong to - because they see it as "the best thing going". And that goes for both sides.
Salik Rafiq, Blackburn, UK For the past two years I have worked in community development and I have a first and postgraduate degree in culture and society. I have found that people like Trevor Phillips and others associated with the so-called Commission of Racial Equality are out of touch with the situation and their views often hinder race relations. Although I work in community development within a multi-racial community, I avoid any involvement with the Commission for Racial Equality, and especially people with similar views as Philips. The problems associated with society are far more complex and would take several thousand words to identify the concepts associated with integration.
Peter, London
Handling this issue is not the role of the government. Forcing people to do something they don't want to do increases bitterness and tension. Let things happen naturally. Birds of a feather flock together, that's what we are seeing here.
Robert, Atlanta, USA
I think Trevor Phillips' comments do more harm then good. Yes we need to improve integration, but we cannot expect to force this by sending more ethic minorities to "white" majority schools. People need to start realising that a vast majority of the immigrant families are much more integrated into British society than they think. And I can honestly say that I see it everyday of my life or watching TV - people from vastly different backgrounds mingling socially. Myself for example - family of Indian origin - my closest friends are white - British, and Pakistani - British. People are people - there are benefit spongers and people who commit hideous crimes regardless of what race/faith they are. I still believe that that a vast majority of the people in this country are still willing to look beyond what makes us all different, and see what we all have in common.
Sumit Biswas, London, UK It is poverty based rather than racial. But what does he want done about it and what ever happened to self responsibility?
Simon, London
Why doesn't Mr Phillips look at the immigrants who come here and assimilate into society, ie Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese. They don't have ghettos, they have areas where they can associate and then go back to their homes. They have their own self-help groups, bother no one and get on with their lives. I'm afraid it really does boil down to the simple question, if you don't like it, leave.
Don, Carshalton
| People of a similar background will stick together |
It is true that people of a similar background will stick together. Of course they will. This applies to British ex-pats abroad certainly. The difference is that British ex-pats don't expect, and do not see, their new country putting its beliefs and values below those of immigrants to help them feel more at home. The fact that we have done so in the UK has meant that many minorities have had no reason to integrate into British society and ghettos have formed.
Mark Rillands, London I think Trevor Phillips probably has a point but simply by having a Commission for Racial Equality has raised the issues past a point that is helpful. It's almost like he's raising these points to keep himself busy. The UK has been a multicultural society for a significant number of years and why has the issue only got 'worse' over the last 8-10 years? Press coverage? Possibly. Do-gooders? Possibly. Talking more and more about 'discrimination' - almost certainly. There are times when discrimination makes me feel like I'm in a minority and we couldn't be more British.
Clive, Woking
My Polish Jewish grandparents came to this country nearly 100 years ago and lived in the Jewish enclave in the East End of London - the Poles in one street, Latvians in another and so on. The next generation moved to Jewish enclaves of Ilford and Golders Green, etc. And my generation still live together for both religious and social reasons. The vast majority mix openly and happily with other races but like the comfort of numbers. British Italians and Ukrainians also seem to have their 'areas' but nobody seems to worry we might be racially segregated. It's for each community to find its own way but one thing is certain - you can only successfully integrate in this country with the support and respect of the host population, not criticising them at every opportunity.
Judith, Bury, Lancs
I come from a mixed race family, I work with people from varied ethnic communities and have friends of different race and religions. We all work and want a good life for our children. The problems come from those that want everything for free and complain that they are short changed.
Working London Man, London
| If I want to fit in within this country then I need to adapt, learn the language and involve myself |
As an ex-pat living in France it is true that most of my friends are also ex-pats and those who speak English. But that is my shortcoming as my French is not up to the task of fully integrating, but I'm working on it. I accept that if I want to fit in within this country then I need to adapt, learn the language and involve myself with the French community around me. Were there a large ex-pat community in this area I'm sure it would be only too easy to cut myself off from the indigenous population, but that wouldn't make it the right thing to do, and would only stifle the experience of living in this country. If I can do this as an immigrant to France, then why should the same not be expected from immigrants to the UK? Perhaps it is France's policy of protecting their language and culture whereby every form one needs to fill in to live here does not come in 7 languages that makes France a less popular choice for immigration without integration.
Steve, France I am a Highland Scot living in Northern Ireland and previously in England. I think I have integrated pretty well into both of these rather different cultures. Having a common language is key and failure to ensure that all immigrants from non-English speaking cultures are taught to speak and write our language, as well as our social and legal regime, has caused many problems. These people deserve our investment in these areas.
Stewart MacDuff, Belfast
Of course there is segregation, why are Mr Philips and the government suddenly surprised by this? Small numbers of immigrants can be assimilated and welcomed, but great numbers are bound to wish to congregate together, whether indigenous or immigrant. All races have a nationalistic feeling, and wish to be among their own kind who share their culture and heritage. Why anyone should be so blind as to have ignored this natural trait is beyond me.
Sue Keats, Leicestershire, England
I've lived in and travelled to many countries and in every single one different races and religious groups live separately. For some reason people like Trevor Phillips seem to think that we in the UK can be different. You can legislate, prosecute and pontificate as much as you like and you won't change a thing because that's the way people are. The experts grind away and cause nothing but grief for everyone.
Keith, Chepstow, Wales, Ex Doha, Qatar
| Parents of all ethnic backgrounds need to take responsibility for their children |
What does Trevor Phillips suggest the government do? With all due respect this has nothing to do with race. Colour and religion is an excuse. I know a number of people from different races and religions to myself that are hard working citizens and proud to be British or happy to be living in Britain. I also know of a number of white British people that are not hard working but opportunists living off the state, uneducated and irresponsible role models. The issue is not the government, nor the majority of law abiding citizens. The problem is the individuals themselves. Parents of all ethnic backgrounds need to take responsibility for their children. This is the cause. It starts at home.
M Price, Horsham What's truly ironic is all this talk of "race relations" is entirely unscientific. The genetic differences between peoples of different coloured skins are tiny. There is only one human race, so talk of "race relations" puts up a division between people. I'd propose teaching this in our schools and then you'll see a difference in attitude.
John Airey, Peterborough, UK
Yes, I do agree with Trevor Phillips although I do not agree with any suggested measures to encourage integration by forcing "white" schools to take more children from ethnic minorities unless the ethnic schools accept "white" children in return at their own schools. There will never be integration unless any action taken involves all of the population and not just "whites". Remember please that "respect" works both ways.
Dave Harding, Abingdon, England, UK
My town is about 25% Muslim, mostly Asian, and is pretty segregated in parts, although community relations are OK. Having been to Northern Ireland in the summer and then to Thorpe Edge, an estate in Bradford that is pretty much whites only with English flags flying I can't help wondering if that was how Northern Ireland started out. As it is at school there are plenty of Asians who get on well with the whites and vice versa.
Rob, Dewsbury
When I lived in Japan I did my very best not to mix with the ex-pat Brits who were often dreadful. I did my best to integrate, despite looking quite different from the general population. I learned the language, became a teacher of Japanese music etc. I certainly don't mind integrating when I go abroad - the culture of my choice - but I don't want to be forced into reverse-integration at home and made to become involved with cultures in which I have, for the most part, absolutely no interest of affinity.
SK, UK
It is natural to want to live with people from the same social, ethnic and religious background. So naturally we collect in so called 'ghettos'. Integration is necessary only to avoid conflict between communities. I believe the solution is to transfer power and decision making away from central government to local communities to allow them to govern themselves and address issues locally according to local priorities.
Michael, Penshurst, UK
| If you want to live in a country you should adopt their principles |
I was lucky enough to live in the US for a few years. During that time I deliberately avoided the ex-pat community ensuring that I adopted the American way of life. I did cook English dishes for my American friends, taught them English slang, etc but feel if you want to live in a country you should adopt their principles. Although I did retain English spellings.
Carol, Basildon, UK You would think that, buried in the middle of rural Norfolk as I am, the issue of multi-cultural England might have passed me by. But for years I have had Russian and Polish people living as neighbours on one side and Americans living on the other. You chaps in the big world get on and have your debates about ghettos etc. We in Norfolk live in a true multicultural society and have done for years.
Sally, Norfolk, UK
I'm not sure that the government realises, but by pursuing policies which champion multi-culturalism they're inadvertently ensuring that the divide widens. Of course everybody should be proud of their heritage. However, that pride shouldn't (if integration is what everyone wants) be at the expense of integrating with society at large.
Leon, Purfleet, England
Why force white schools to accept more people from minority groups? Segregation is not wholly due to white people. Some communities are largely minority ethnic - should they be forced to take white people too? Forcing people to do anything can only cause more racial tension.
Anon
You should be asking school children in inner London about how they see UK society becoming divided along racial lines. At the end of the school day most of the young groups leaving comprehensive schools are non-white. This is especially emphasised in wealthier districts in the west. I assume the majority of white children in West London are educated at independent schools. So racial "ghettos" aren't necessarily confined to deprived areas.
James, Southend, UK
Trevor Philips suggests "white" schools take more pupils from minorities. Only a few months ago he was suggesting that black boys should be taught separately. Until he can make up his mind whether he prefers segregation or integration he should keep his opinions to himself.
Jeremy, London, UK
Just because certain groups of the population (whichever ethnic background they are from) prefer to settle in certain areas, why should this be seen as a 'racist' problem? People can be comfortable living in communities where there are more of their own culture/background without having to hate the rest of the population! For example, there are many areas in the West Midlands that are that are predominantly populated with Pakistani or Bangladeshi background residents, and I for one make use of the fantastic specialist supermarkets and food outlets that have sprung up in these areas to serve these communities. In over 30 years here, I have never encountered any 'hostility' in these areas just because I am not Asian, and long may it continue to be so. It almost seems that people like Mr Phillips are stirring things up by inferring that there is a problem that for the most part does not exist.
Stuart, West Midlands, UK I agree that we are getting less 'mixed'. Living in London, I see people talking to other races, but mainly they stick to their own. I grew up in Wimbledon (South London) in the '70's, and the entire road was of mixed races, religions, and colours, but we all got on well, and frequently had social gatherings which the entire family enjoyed. I miss those days, and I miss we could all just get along together.
Nick, London, UK
The area where I live used to be made up of a good mixture of people from different races. People lived more or less happily together. Over the last few years there has been increasing segregation of differing ethnic and religious groups. This has lead to an underlying atmosphere of mistrust and fear and, very sadly, an increase in racially motivated aggression from all parties. This is being instilled into the young people growing up in the area and I fear that things will get worse and worse unless something is done.
Natalie, Birmingham
Is there one British person in this forum who tried to settle and integrate in another country? If you were, you would probably congregate with the British community, discussing of the problems and failures of the new country, watch British TV through satellites, etc. I am an immigrant and I was told by a British friend, that if I was not happy, I could leave the UK and go back to where I belonged. He stopped being my friend and I became segregated after his comments.
Anon, Bradford
My parents moved to London from Leeds to live nearer to friends and family and 40 years ago, parts of North London would be considered a ghetto. Then they became the first black family on their final move to the street where I grew up. If only having 3 out of 39 white families talking to you, getting your new car windows smashed or having dog mess left on your doorstep is what it takes to integrate, little wonder that some immigrants think it's not worth it as Anon, Bradford has found.
Ken, London, UK
| There have been fully fledged ghettos based on lack of finance for years |
Why does Mr Philips blame the divide on race and religion. There have been fully fledged ghettos based on lack of finance for years caused by the council housing policies of the 70s.
Anon, UK Integration can only be achieved when people share a common language, cultural and/or religious background - until that happens then we can only expect groups to continue to separate into social ghettos
Jon, Nottingham, UK
On the whole the British ex-pat population abroad lives, works and socialises within its own clique. They don't support their adoptive country when playing a British team in sport or wear the clothes of that follow local custom. What's the difference?
Neil, Cheshire
Having lived in Ireland, the USA and now Britain, I find that Britain is the least segregated and most embracing of multiculturalism. Segregation will always be an economic one but you would be naive to believe that the issue of race does not contribute to the division in our society.
Vince, Manchester
Yes, we have always been racially segregated held together very gingerly and precariously by very thin and unreliable threads of superficial political and social policies. Wake up and smell the coffee! This is a consequence of foreseeable actions our government and society were and are continuously perpetrating
Beatric, London
If people want to live with others of their own race, what's the problem?
Mike Davies, Bury, Lancs, UK
It is true that Britain is becoming more segregated. To some extent this results from the attempts to be a fair and multi-cultural society, allowing everyone to do as they wish with the outcome of ghettos. However I disagree that integration can be forced, but instead think it should be an integral want in a fully functioning society.
Anonymous
I believe the key is to educate our children as to other cultures and encourage the interaction of different groups, I don't, however, believe in forced integration as it has the potential to isolate some minorities even further.
Jill, London
Of course, it is becoming more segregated. People will always form societal groupings that they feel comfortable within and that leads to segregation. This may be an anathema to the other-worldly multiculturalists, but it is human nature in action. There is little that can be done about it, apart from draconian enforcement from above that tramples upon people's freedoms.
Phil, London
Those who wanted a 'multi-cultural' Britain are now complaining of it consequences. If people want to come and live in this country they should become British and adopt the British culture and way of life. Idealistic fools with too much time on their hands and vested interest in divisions (i.e. Trevor Phillips) advocate other policies.
John Karran, Liverpool
Are middle class white people living in a mostly middle class what area also living in a ghetto? Or, is this term only to be used when referring to poor black or Asian people living together?
Suresh, London
I agree 100% with Trevor Phillips, the country is becoming divided. The problem is that as usual political correctness will ensure the blame for this is unfairly aimed at white British people. I live in an area with a very high minority population and in my apartment development I try hard to be sociable with my neighbours but they just don't care. They don't speak to me in the corridors and most of them have made little attempt to learn English or teach it to their children. Maybe it is time to force the ethnic minorities to adapt to the British way of life, instead of constantly accusing the native population of racism.
Dave, Slough, UK
Faith schools aren't helping matters!
Anna, Cambridge, UK
| It can't be good for society to have such physical divisions |
Many have struggled to define multi-culturalism. Trevor Phillips has provided the best definition yet, essentially multi-ghettoism. It can't be good for society to have such physical divisions. Other European countries have requirements/schemes to integrate immigrant populations into their societies rather than leave them to their own devices as we do here.
Jonathan, London Cardiff has been a multicultural city for many years, where all races and cultures live together in relative harmony. The situation which Trevor Phillips describes is no different than that created by 'Brits Abroad, who emigrate to Spain and then create their own Little Britain, with little or no effort to integrate with the natives. The only area of the UK that is divided by religion is N. Ireland, and that is perpetuated by the media always referring to the religion in their reports of the latest acts of thuggery.
Alan, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Trevor Philips' is a bit behind the times. We have had fully-fledged ghettos in this country for years. When I left East London four years ago, the street in which I lived was almost exclusively Pakistani and/or Bangladeshi. Today, that community has expanded further throughout Leyton in particular. With large extended families, Asians tend to want to live near to one another. The person I sold my house to bought it because his sister lived across the road. Integration in this country has always been something of a myth, and in my experience it isn't because of racism, unless wanting to live near a relative is defined as such! What will the government do, tell people where they can or cannot live?
David Clancy, Epping, Essex, UK
I didn't think it could get any more segregated than it already was. I do not believe that this is the fault of the indigenous population, but immigrants who have been unwilling to integrate for whatever reason. They have created their own ghettos. Sad but true.
Graham Ridler, Leeds
Yes, I agree with Mr Phillips, Britain is becoming more segregated along racial lines, and he's made a pretty decent living out of contributing towards the divide.
Jeff, London
What about forcing "ethnic" schools to take larger numbers of white pupils? Surely it has to work both ways and both sides have to accept the other?
Anonymous
Trevor Phillips presumably knows perfectly well that those schools which are most significantly divided on racial lines are faith schools. He presumably knows also that the present government is encouraging the creation of more faith schools, including giving state funding to independent Muslim schools. I wonder how this form of segregation will be dealt with?
Helen, Manchester, UK
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