Is the UK a racist country

[bubblebabble]

Hi there, just wanted to get your views on this. I've been following the Tory hustings and am very shocked that people prefer Truss to Sunak when clearly, he's more intelligent and capable.
It makes me wonder if racism is at play and people can't handle a non-white PM in this country?

@Ihaveanoldiphone :( Mumsnet needs to do better with ensuring these boards are safe spaces from us.

Personally I am not a huge fan of safe spaces. Especially on the Internet. Especially on a free, public forum. That just will not work.

I am from a specific ethnicity and culture and I am certain I have many prejudices. We need a variety of voices for balance and to learn. Everyone is welcome to post their opinion. But people should remember most of what they type are personal opinions Not sacred fact.

A sweeping generalisation like "the UK is the least racist country on the planet" is laughable.

Hi all - we've removed some posts here that were found to break our guidelines. As the disclaimer above says, this board is primarily for South Asian MNers but it is after all on an open site and can be viewed by anyone.

As with the Black Mumsnetters board, posters here are under no obligation to educate, inform or answer questions about race issues and we insist that people are respectful of that. And we will of course delete racist posts and ban those involved.

The most effective way of keeping this board friendly, informative and enjoyable is to report posts to us that you think we should see - and so please keep doing that. Thanks.

@Malie They probably aren’t aware of what awaits. But my question to you is, what is your point? That there’s no racism in the UK? It’s all perfect here? That the racism that minority races have experienced is all imaginary? What’s your point?
Surely you are aware that as a the UK is an English speaking country, and given that more people are likely to speak English than say German this is a big factor for the refugees wanting to come here?
Are you saying that we do not have the right to voice the racism that we face? Are our experiences not valid?
Also I noticed that the UK is not ranked in the top ten least racist countries. Why is the case? Especially given that it used to be a former Empire?
Also have you read the research on the impact of racism in maternity? What do you make of it? When a mother/child dies because of racism in the UK, I’d like to see you go up to the family and say, but you know, the UK isn’t as bad as some other countries. www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1300
You are a ridiculous person. Also did you not read the comment from MN above?

@Malie it may have something to do with the fact that most of these people (regardless of what the media says) are fleeing war, harm, murder and terrorism in their own countries. They often have families, friends and established communities here ready to welcome them which is why they don't want to stay in other 'random' countries in Europe. It's not really comparable but don't worry plenty of affluent people cross the Chanel the other way daily too.

Other posters have answered your question but yes just to re-iterate: rightly or wrongly, the UK has a reputation of generous welfare payments to migrants or asylum seekers. Mostly wrong because the hoops they have to jump through are quite depressing. But the impression still lingers and so they attempt to come.

And like PP mentioned, they may already have friends or relatives here and may know more than a smattering of English. Much easier to make a living if you already know the language.

They are NOT crossing the channel because of the UK population's welcoming arms or because these isles are the "least racist" places on the planet.

Disclaimer: yes I know a significant majority of Britons are not xenophobic but you see my point.

Migrants think of jobs and livelihoods first, not if the local population is racist or not. If that were the case, there would be no Filippino and South Asian workers thronging the Gulf States for jobs. There have been many documented cases of the workers living as indentured labourers and modern slaves. Yet still they come.

This.

OP YABVU in saying the UK is a racist country. The UK is not one homogenous mass.

YANU in thinking race has a part to play. IMO for some people there is nothing worse than an uppity brown /black person. For clarity uppity is:

• With money or
• Who is cognizant of their worth or
• is educated

The list, however, is endless.

For me, idea that Rishi wealth the biggest issue is laughable. When it comes to political parties, I have no skin in the game. I, like most of us, have witnessed, racism sexism, elitism and corruption across successive governments. I have yet to find more than a few poiticians truly relateable let alone a whole party. Do you really think Liz understands having to choose between eating and heating? You don't have to be a millionaire to be out if touch with reality and the stuggles of normal people I love that she is going to be the educational Prime Minister. By the time some children reach formal education the game is over for many. If she truly wants to get the education system she needs to start at the at the beginning, not in the middle. IMO People should be more worried that the choice is Rishi or Liz. I dream od having a choice of Credible cCandidate I respect, 1 and Credibke Candidate I respect, 2. I dont need to relate, I personally just need to respect and believe in who I am voting for.

As an aside why does every thread on race descend into a debate over illegal immigrants?

I often read these threads and think so much for safe places!