Editorial: Anti-immigrant noises grow louder

Immigrants must integrate with British society, but hate campaigns targeting them will harm the nation’s unity

The video footage of anti-immigration protesters in London stopping by the street-side Indian food stalls and tucking into biryani, curries, and onion pakoras reflects the irony of it all. These images provide proof of how immigrants are an inseparable part of British society. This is an undeniable reality of a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nation built on principles of tolerance, diversity, and equality. The immigrants, particularly from Asia, were supposed to be the target of the anger of demonstrators, led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, but it turned out that the food joints run by these very immigrants became the go-to places for snacking. Holding the English and Union Jack flags in one hand and samosas and chutney on the other, the protestors presented a picture of contradiction in an increasingly polarised society. While it is perfectly justified to expect immigrants to be more forthcoming in integrating with British society and respecting its core national values, the hate campaign targeting them would be detrimental to the nation’s unity. Also, it would be grossly unfair to ignore the contributions of immigrant communities to economic development. It is the mosaic of multiple cultures and ethnicities that makes England a uniquely strong country. However, the recent right-wing rally was driven by a predictable narrative that migrants are taking away the local jobs and resources and are responsible for the worsening crime rate. The march in central London under the banner “Unite the Kingdom”, attended by nearly 1.50 lakh people, quickly turned violent.

Though the demonstration was meant to support free speech, it ended up being an anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rant. The marchers were heard chanting, “We want our country back,” and many were carrying the placards that read “stop the boats,” “send them home,” and “enough is enough, save our children.” The situation spiralled out of control with protestors punching, kicking, and hitting policemen with bottles and other items, resulting in 26 of the officers being wounded. American billionaire Elon Musk added fuel to the fire by siding with the demonstrators and condemning the British government through a provocative video message. The crowds in central London, the scale of which was unlike anything the city had seen in recent years, reflected not only the power of extremists but also deeper frustrations with jobs, housing, and services. Social media, fuelled with conspiracy theories, has turned these grievances into a combustible mix. Anti-immigration anger is no longer a background hum. It is loud and visible. The question is whether Britain can prevent this agitation from reshaping the nation’s political identity. For Indians, the implications are complicated. They are the largest non-UK ethnic group in London, numbering over 6.50 lakh in Greater London. British Indians own over 65,000 businesses in the UK, contributing roughly 60 billion pounds annually to the UK’s economy.

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