Does the UK have a racism problem?

[JolllyBee]

In just the last 24 hours alone we've had in the news:

Prince William’s godmother quits palace over comments to black charity boss

Meghan Markle had several 'disgusting' and credible threats to her life, Met cop reveals

Various people's census rants going viral and getting a scary amount of support

James McAvoy shocked by hometown racism in Glasgow after castmates abused on street

and a few days prior:

London Fire Brigade houses a toxic culture of bullying, racism and misogyny, inquiry finds

Yes, it does.

Just look at Nigel Farage's comments about the ethnic make up of some of our cities and a GB News presenter quoting the rivers of blood speech.

The racists have been emboldened by the likes of Boris Johnson and Suella Braverman.

Yes and I'm not surprised. It's been going on since before I was born, and my parents and grandparents have stories. Something happens every now and then that puts a spotlight on it like the examples you give in your post but it's a bit like asking does an alcoholic have an alcohol problem.

Why ask the question? The answer is obvious.

Does anywhere in the world not have a racism problem?

YANBU. We're still racist.

Of course it does, and always will I'm afraid. We also have ageism, fatism, even disabledism (if that's a word). Some people will always hate those that are different from themselves.

Well a record 1/2 million immigrants to the UK seem to think it’s worth it ?.

Boris Johnson was Prime Minister until recently...

Not really sure that’s a high enough bar you’ve set there…

Could you explain exactly the point you're trying to make here just in case you somehow meant something less offensive than this seems to say?

Interesting to learn on the radio earlier that Russian soldiers who surrender in Ukraine have a choice of claiming asylum there or in the Netherlands or Germany.

Of course. There is no country in the entire world that doesn't have racism.

Not one.

In that case shouldn't the poll result show 100 to 0% either way?

In isolation or compared to other countries? In isolation yes, compared to other countries no.

Yes @isadoradancing123 that's the bar we should have. People choose to leave a country where they fear for their lives to come here to come here so presumably they should be grateful for any treatment as it's better than their own country?

Rivers of Blood speech? Can you please share the link where the GB News presenter quoted that? I tried to google it and I just found the original speech.

I married a child of an immigrant. She is a well respected doctor (as are her immigrant parents). We now have British children. Should they feel guilt for being children of immigrants or are they British enough for you (as the arbiter of all that is right and good in the world)?

Pretty confident there have been more than 1/2 a million immigrants over the millennia. I mean the Picts, the Anglo Saxons, vikings, not to mention the Romans...

People realise that racism isn't exclusive to immigrants and asylum seekers right?

There is racism, same as everywhere. Racism is a natural element of being human (as is any ‘othering’ of people who are different to you - we are tribal). I don’t think you can aim to eliminate it or to dictate what people think. All you can do is pass and enforce anti-discrimination law/prosecute hate crime/ develop a culture of tolerance. I think in general compared to many other countries we do well on racism but obviously there’s always room for improvement.

It's on his Twitter feed @calvinrobinson

You only have to look at the brexit vote to know th at indeed, we live in a racist country. As Will Self said, not everyone who voted for brexit was racist, but every racist voted for brexit.

All countries and cultures have racist and bigoted elements. The UK is one of the least racist countries in the world. Try being Christian or Jewish in the Middle East or black in some parts of Asia or Chinese ethnicity in Malaysia. Also plenty of racism towards white people in areas where they are a minority and Jewish people in the UK.

YANBU.

Brexit seems to have emboldened them too

Any links to examples of census rants or media coverage?

Racism is definitely alive and kicking around these parts. DH and I have regular conversations about how to deal with some of the racist attitudes we encounter both on Facebook and in day to day life - and we're both white British.