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Britain in danger of 'ethnic cold war'

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The race watchdog chief Trevor Phillips has warned that the UK is in danger of a 'cold war' between ethnic communities.

He went onto to say that now was the time to hold a debate on immigration without people being accused of racism. In response to the 'cold war' claims, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne yesterday suggested that "the biggest changes for 45 years, including a points system, a single border force and reintroduction of a system to count people in and out," all needed to be introduced.

Phillips explained that the country has seen 'the emergence of a kind of cold war in some areas where very separate communities exist side by side with poor communication across racial or religious lines."

He believes that the country's uncontrolled immigration has encouraged racism.
mattbrawn

7 responses // Britain in danger of 'ethnic cold war'

  • Good call. It's about time we have sensible, reasoned debate about such a crucial issue without politicians prioritising potential criticism from ignorant types over the importance of finding workable resolutions.
    swizzylions
  • There is no debate to have. You have to celebrate cultural diversity. Festivals, cultural bank holidays, practical education in schools etc

    Its all about respect. If you respect where someone comes from they'll give you the time of day. People have to get involved in a society which they live in, only the fundamentalist religious groups tend to actively separate themselves.

    And its these people that win when the rest of us are "debating wether to talk to each other"

    Famous Immigrants:

    Albert Einstein, Madeleine Albright, Karl Marx, George Frederick Handel, Henry Kissinger, Gloria Estefan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carlos Santana, Isabel Allende, and many more.............

    emmahill
  • If the Government really wants to bring skilled immigrants into this contry then it must be relax on the points system because those who are well qualified and earning a good salary in their countries will never come to the UK. Foreign students who are qualified from British Universities should be given the chance to stay in this country and find good jobs for themselves.
    hereandnow
  • For too long we've had the right and far right accusing immigrants of 'stealing our jobs' and not choosing to adopt the 'british way' (whatever that is??). These aren't real problems, they're private fears propagated by racist political parties like the BNP.

    If a reasoned debate is going to take place, we need to work out what the benefits and problems associated with immigration actually are.

    (Either that - or abolish the notion of states and accept that we are all citizens of the world..)
    lwhi
  • There should be no debate as cultural diversity is celebrated in communities, to introduce a point scorin system would undo all the hard work which has been put in over the past....
    hansoi
  • I agree - there shouldn't need to be any debate, because cultural diversity SHOULD be celebrated in communities.

    But what do you do when people aren't celebrating cultural diversity? Maybe talking about it is a good start.
    lwhi
  • i must live in a differnt country that the mirror. i was under the impression that diversity was good and that we can talk about issues without a cold war erupting...
    the only real debate is why dont we let people have "citizenship" (not that we are ) who serve this country, im thinkin here of the Gurkha's.


    ps i still cant stand the computer voice on the news i turn off most times now
    troyka

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