LONDON
Ethnic minorities will make up a third of the U.K. population by 2050 according to a right-leaning think tank, Policy Exchange.
A study entitled ‘A Portrait of Modern Britain’ reveals that the five largest Black and Minority Ethnic communities could potentially double from 8 million people or 14 percent of the population to between 20-30 percent by 2050.
The study reports that the white population has remained approximately the same while minority population has nearly doubled. According to the think tank, Policy Exchange, Black Africans and Bangladeshis are the fastest growing ethnic minority communities.
The five largest minority groups are Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Black African and Black Caribbean. The paper outlines the demographics, geography, life experiences, attitudes and socio-economic status of each of these major ethnic groups. The purpose of the research, says Policy Exchange, is to show that there are clear and meaningful differences between each of these communities, which need to be fully understood by policymakers and politicians.
The study also shows that people from ethnic minority backgrounds have a far stronger association with being British than the White population. The 2011 Census revealed that only 14 percent of Whites identified themselves as being purely British, with 64 percent seeing themselves as purely English. The research says that all other ethnic minority communities were over four times more likely to associate themselves with being British.
Rishi Sunak, co-author of the study and handbook, said,
“The face of Britain has changed and will keep changing over the next 30 years. From the post-war arrival of Jamaicans and Indians to the recent influx of Africans, the U.K. is now home to a melting pot of different cultures and traditions."
“These communities will continue to become an ever more significant part of Britain, especially in future elections. However, as our research demonstrates ethnic minorities are not one homogeneous political group. From education to employment, housing to trust in the police, politicians from all parties must understand the different issues affecting individual communities.”
englishnews@aa.com.tr
