It was the tight suits that first alerted me. Or maybe the fact that they
abruptly fell silent as we passed.
I had just given a speech – on the future of immigration, diversity and good
relations in Britain – at the Birmingham hotel where 40 years earlier Enoch
Powell had chosen to talk of the River Tiber “foaming with much blood”. As I
made my way out of the hotel, one of my colleagues nudged my elbow and
mouthed silently: “BNP.”
Hearing that we were in town, the British National party had arrived at the
hotel, complete with an Enoch Powell lookalike, to deliver the same speech
as Powell had made decades earlier.
In the flesh the BNP always feels like a pompous, self-regarding comedy turn –
but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a serious political force. Extremists gain
leverage when the Establishment, or what the public believes is the
Establishment, fails to talk about the issues that bother it.
My own speech had been squarely about the two questions that are at present
top of the political charts – race and immigration. But I also wanted to
deal with a wider question: at a time when our society is wealthier and
better educated than ever before, who’s being left behind – and why?
To be sure, the problems of racial discrimination against minorities haven’t
gone away – black and Asian young men are still up to seven times more
likely to be arrested by the police; Pakistani men will earn more than a
quarter of million pounds less than their white equivalents over a lifetime;
and young Bangladeshi women are having to settle for jobs for which they are
overqualified.
But we are also confronting for the first time in my lifetime an equality
deficit not much talked about at Westminster. I am referring to the growing
underclass of poor white boys – a forgotten group who also face a kind of
institutional racism. I am deeply worried that they will grow into poor,
disillusioned, alienated white men.
Why should the Equality and Human Rights Commission care? Many people,
including our friends, think that it exists largely to shout the odds for
anybody who is not male, white, straight and able-bodied. But that is wrong
on every count.
We aren’t a minorities’ pressure group. We work for the whole of society, not
just those at the margins – though those who suffer most disadvantage have a
right to come first in the queue for our support. (And let’s remember that
some of those who face systematic inequality aren’t small minorities – women
are a majority, most of us will become parents and virtually all of us will
get old.)
What we are is a body that attacks unfairness wherever it sees it. That’s why
some of the wider trends that may be leading to greater inequality are right
at the top of our agenda – economic change, the skills gap and, above all,
migration.
Let me be unambiguous about this last issue. I am pro-immigration. The British
people’s experience is that managed migration has brought great advantages
to the country, not the tide of hate that Powell prophesied. But immigration
has also raised important issues – not least that if we aren’t careful, the
benefits from it will fall into the hands of employers, shareholders and
middle-class professionals, while any burdens are left to be borne by the
poorest in society.
So we have to ensure that the positive impact of migration is not offset by
the costs – such as public services under increased pressure and an
infrastructure that is struggling to cope. Let these issues languish in the
tray marked “too difficult to talk about”, and resentment will grow. We also
need to be clear that worrying about the consequences of immigration does
not make you antiforeigner. And we must tackle a vital question: why are
some groups in society not getting the chances they deserve? Last week two
reports highlighted again the issue of underachievement. A report by the Bow
Group, the Conservative think tank, showed that in the past 10 years almost
4m pupils left school without gaining the basic qualifications of five good
GCSEs.
The cost to the economy of low educational attainment – and low social
mobility – is £32 billion a year, or £1,300 to the average family, according
to Reform, the independent think tank. Its report spoke of the “why bother?”
generation – people who feel shut out by the system. If people feel shut
out, they will try to find someone easy to blame: the outsider, the
immigrant.
At the commission, we are doing research on educational underachievement and
its link to ethnicity. Initial findings reveal that, for example,
Bangladeshi and black African students at school outperform their white
peers from comparable economic and social backgrounds. Statistics also show
that black African, Bangladeshi and Pakistani students achieve higher GCSE
scores than equivalent white students.
We know that it is not only white children from poorer background who are
struggling. Black Caribbean children are also underachieving.
In the autumn, after our research is published, we will host a conference on
white working-class boys. We want to listen to the pupils themselves, the
teachers and the parents. And we need to demonstrate that fairness is about
equal treatment for all – black, white or Asian.
It is only in tackling these issues that we take the toxicity out of debates
on immigration, race and socio-economic underachievement. Fair treatment and
equal chances are everyone’s right. No one should feel the work of the
commission is “not about me”.
Trevor Phillips is chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission
The govt of the day would do well to listen to what is being said by the people, too much immigration is worse than not enough, too many disenfranchised people says trouble, please start listening.
Maureen Kelly, London, England
I doubt the BNP are the answer, but Trevor Phillips and his ilk are certainly the problem. White men might feel more motivated and disciplined if the benefits, education and legal systems hadnt been run into the ground by the Left over the last 40 years.
Kevin Wilson, Slough,
Firstly i find your results of immigration laughable ,Is it ok for Livingstone to use groups like OBV to incite hatred towards political parties namely the BNP and fund more groups like socialists and UAF to try to sway peoples oppinion in a hate campaign against them and just how many are registerd
Tony Winchester, Essex, G.B.
Once mobilized to action radical British Muslims and alienated angry white youngsters would make Stanley Kramer's "Clockwork Orange" Britain seem pleasant fairy tale.
MARK KLEIN, M.D., Oakland, California, USA
UK accepts immigrants for cheap labour. They come because (sadly) it's better than home. But don't forget: 1) immigrants do jobs most locals don't want to do anymore; 2) immigrant children are pushed at home to better themselves with education; 3) we benefit, in turn become lazy, and then resentful.
AR, Reading, UK
15 years ago, I worked for a multi national who would promote anyone except one group of people. A woman (who herself was leaving) advised me to get out as I was in the worst situation - young, white and male. Because I saw no future, I got out and now work abroad in a society that values me..
JB, .,
I'm a black male. I got nothing when I was unemployed apart from dole money. There were no handouts. I got no housing benefits. So much for people like me 'getting all the handouts'
I now run my own business and look forward to taking out to Asia-Pacific where the life's better.
Derek, London,
Did I read that Trevor Philips includes the elderly in the list of those the commission is supposed to represent? Has anybody ever heard of it doing anything to improve the position of the elderly?
John Wood, Poinciana, UK
Well said Terry Radstock, the white male has no role model and has been completed undermined by the PC brigade a prime example is showing every white male in adverts as the complete bungling bafoon.Thanks Trevor but we dont need your sympathy you and your brigade are to the cause not the solutuion.
andy murray, reading, uk
white boys / men with no prospects feel left out - and they are left out - no one cares about them - all the money and interest goes to the others - but if we have a war and the country needs defending these are the boys / men who will be expected to, and who will fight and die for us -
Marty, London,
So now there is to be a government program focused on improving the educational prospects of "poor white boys", eh? Assuming this program actually works, what happens when they leave school and are confronted with "positive discrimination" and job signs that read, "no whites need apply"?
MaryJ, San Francisco, Calif., USA
The reason this political elite thinks nothing of the dangers of immigration, is because this country has been run by two immigrants for the past decade.
Nick Dixon, Sutton Coldfield, England
White working class men have the same opportunities as everyone else, possibly more than white middle class boys. But a lot refuse these opportunities, and choose to sit and whine about how women, and other races have taken these opportunities. I work hard to suceed, if they dont, its not my fault
james, uk,
Unfortunately, we are accused of being racists when we point out the downsides of mass immigration. Whole areas of London have had the hearts of their communities torn out of them because a large influx of third world immigrants with a style of life and values, totally alien to ours.
Derek payne, London, uk
"Many people, including our friends, think that it exists largely to shout the odds for anybody who is not male, white, straight and able-bodied." Whatever could have given us that idea, I wonder! Now suddenly they're smelling the coffee. Must be elections coming up.
Andy, Whitchurch,
What moron(s) decided that anyone from throughout the world could enter this Country and despite having paid NOTHING into the system could benefit from a free health service, free schooling, benefits, tax credits, Council housing, free translation and probably many other things. Yes, Calamity Brown.
Roger, Surrey,
I am suprised at some of the comments that people have left! You talk about immigrants as a product or a TV show, 'Oh I don't like that'. If any of you made an effort to get to know any foreigners I'm sure you will find that most of them are very friendly and some of them are idiots like us British.
Alex, Islingtonia,
What about the mass imiigration of Brits going to live in Spain and France?? Most of them don't bother learning the local language and want everything like in Britain. Unlike immigrants in UK
I am 'white working class' and I have been to uni and am working in France. Hard work=sucess
Alex, Islingtonia,
Poor poor England, you have absorbed the 3rd world, have ignored the sages of the past and have allowed unfettered access to our bountiful shores by a people that hate us.
We killed Christ in the 70's and worship at the altar of Beckham and Spice. We have forgotten our heritage. Today we die...
Ianto, Portland,
Phillips said the benefits will fall into the hands of employers, he's wrong its already happened!! British fruit pickers not employed for years in Kent but now Polish are not wanted (EU members) its now Russians, Ukrainians etc (£3 ph)
Minimum wage, Union membership, its all just one big joke.
Graham, St. Albans, uk
You cannot rewrite history however much some minority croups would like. Enoch Powell was a man of his time and some of the acceptable references he made then are not acceptable today. What people perhaps don't realise is that Powell was a very clever and intelligent man and perhaps one of the best public speakers we have ever had. How many men rise from private to captain in the army, very few I would say. He would have certainly made a better prime minister than Edward Heath, who took us in to Europe and discarded our former colonies and two way trade. He would have put Britain first being the patriotic politician he was.
Richard, Crewe, UK
Try looking in any primary school or news item for a positive role model for young white boys. Thanks to Mr Phillips and his like a positive view of young white boys has been obliterated from their lives. TV or school, who is laughed at and made to look the fool? News, who represents achievement?
Terry, Radstock, England
The poor white underclass are given the same opportunities as everyone else in this country. Millions of them simply refuse to take these opportunities and would rather the state paid them to live on benefits while complaining about immigrants taking jobs they can't be bothered doing themselves
Sophie, Liverpool,
Mass immigration has been a huge mistake. Trying to live side by side with people who have no historical allegiance or loyalty to this country has not worked and has made us angry, alienated and afraid to speak our minds. As for "enriching our culture" please - not that rubbish.
veronica, London, UK
I have never been anti-immigration until the last ten years when I no longer feel at home in my own country. Trevor Phillips' remarks have come too late for many like me.
Carole, Enfield, UK
The poor english man decided this by himself when he sat through his education not taking any notice. It is not my fault that I listened and obtained qualifications, and now have a job which pays a good salary. Though for some these days they know its easier to claim benefits and then complain.
Kiran, Germany,
Perhaps the Uk govt will compensate with another diasbility benefit for this syndrome
Vic C, Sandwell,
Mr Phillips had ample opportunity to speak out on these matters over the last two decades, when all the while numerous danger signals were plain to see. Surely the EHRC needs new leadership we can trust rather than people who might be thought to have created these problems in the first place.
SGS, stratford, UK
If you talk like that in the USA your a "neo-con Bush lover". Its the same here. Instead of fostering a society where all is equal, governments have made it far worse. Look at our elections in the USA. Its not the "neo-cons" blaming jews and pandering along racial lines for votes its our liberals!
William, Atlanta, USA
I don't feel comfortable in the company of immigrants.Why am I made to feel guilty about this ? Similarly I don't like certain foods, or TV programmes.Nobody forces me to like East Enders,but apparently we all have to mix with immigrants or face being accused of racism.Am I not allowed a choice ?
Mike, Dunstable, England
"Bangladeshi and black African students at school outperform their white peers from comparable economic and social backgrounds". Economic backgrounds might be comparable but social is not. The former group place a higher value on formal education than the latter. History might reveal more on this.
Linford Roy-Macauley, Kent,
Oh please. Enough fake concern for "poor white men". I had a poor white man as a dad 50 years ago. I recall football hooligans 30 years ago. They have enough options but many prefer, say, drink to study and can't abide the idea of an employer telling them what to do.
VIcky, Germany,
'We want to listen to the pupils themselves, the teachers and the parents. And we need to demonstrate that fairness is about equal treatment for all – black, white or Asian.'
So they have not been listening for the last twenty five years?
Richard, London, England
Mr Phillips, I am sure that you mean well, but please take into account the fundamental problem. The U.K is a small island (with a small adjunct in N.Ireland). The country can support some 40 - 45 million people. This is based upon what the infrastructure can support in the medium to long term.
TMJ Black, Southampton, U.K
The alleged benefits of mass immigration have been proven to be overstated many times. It has been demonstrated in several academic studies that poor, unqualified immigrants contribute less in taxation than they take out in benefits. Furthermore Britain is already violent, dangerous and overcrowded.
Ben, Hopatcong,
Too little too late
Men, and particularly young white men, that is indegenous men of this country, have been marginalised for well over 30 years. Institutional "white male racism" has been the order of the day. Its going to take decades to reverse this. This article is just an excuse.
DaveP, Beverley, UK
Better educated now than ever before Mr. Phillips? Well, my dad went to an all white grammar school and I went to a comprehensive that was over 50% non-white. And guess who ended up being better educated...?
The BNP booked that hotel four months in advance, to pay their respects to a great man.
Phil, Market Drayton, England
Trevor Phillips is pro- immigration. But have the views of the indegenous people ever been sought, and implemented. Mr Phillips, and the cohort of elite politicians, have no right to force the poeple of this country to accept immigrants against their will.
DaveP, Beverley, UK
continued.
Will Mr phillips and the political elite, allow anyone and all, to come and live in their house free of charge. I think not.
Has Mr Phillips considered, that the rapid growth of the Islamic population, threatens to destroy the historic cultural identity of this nation?
DaveP, Beverley, UK
The CRE, the whole race relations industry is, as we all know, racist. It is built on the supposition that WASP culture is racist, and institutionalises this ideology. So yes, it hits poor uneducated whites - who of course look to the BNP and not to mainstream parties who all support the CRE line.
Ib, Dalston, UK
I am impressed by Trevor Phillips' intervention in this complex issue. He refuses to caricature the debate for the likes of the BNP, but also rightly muddies the waters for the larger parties too afraid to speak forthrightly. I applaud him for his efforts. This is the frank discussion the UK needs.
Rene C Moya, London, UK
The problem is schools. We need a debate on what education is for. Is it just a screening process for employers and universities or is everyone entitled to an education without being evaluated as human beings?
Martyn, Bethnal Green, UK
Trevor has had a long time to ponder the plight of the English working classes. He's now paying lip-service to their invisibility only because of the rise of the right wing.
I don't believe he could care less. He is speaking from pure self interest. He could have said this years ago.
E Craig, Helston, UK
Quote:
"I am deeply worried that they will grow into poor, disillusioned, alienated white men."
Yes, you should be, Phillips; and the backlash will come sooner than you think!
Arthur, Swindon, England
If "black" men are 12 times more likely to commit crime, then the Police are being prudent in proportionately stopping/questioning more of them!
E.G. If over 65's carried a high rate of some contractable disease it would make more sense to test this group for it.
E&HRC = PC! BNP? Your choice!
Terry, Bagneres, France
We should be sending them all back...starting with foreign Premier League footballers who can't speak a word of English and take jobs our boys should be having. The trouble with the English is that we are mercenaries are heart and will buy anything from anywhere as long as the price is right.
Rich, Cambridge, UK
Jonathan Charles Gale says “a lot of poor white boys (and girls) are rude, lazy…”. A rather odd statement from someone who couldn’t be bothered to press the shift key! If indigenous youth are as bad as he asserts I fail to see how bringing in foreigners solves the problems.
Ian Davis, Sydney, Australia
I am Australian professional and my ancestry is British, but to be allowed to live in Britain I had to jump through hoops. Many immigrants to Britain have neither ancestral connections nor qualifications. No wonder so many of Britain’s findigenous population are coming here to join their bretherin.
Ian Davis, Sydney, Australia
I read all the web-sites for the political parties and the BNP one is at www.bnp.org. The BNP is a legally constituted and accepted political party and only those who fear it call it false names. Elections are not won, they are lost by parties who do not listen to the voters' fears and wishes.
B J Deller, Marbella, Spain
Steve Moxan,
Exactly how are women overprivaliged?
Most judges, high ranking police officers, MPs etc are men. The problem is that there is a certain type of man who thinks that he can sit and do nothing and if anyone elses out achieves him he is hard done to, and they are overprivilged.
Lesley, uk,
The BNP are gaining ground because the Establishment refuse to take the concerns of indigenous citizens seriously. They still aren't. Immigrants shouldn't be allowed to enter unless they have a job, accommodation and private healthcare. Welfare should not apply at all until they become citizens.
Donna Walker, Effingham, Surrey
Because of the job-imposed blinkers he wears, Trevor Phillips fails to mention that immigration also has a downside. Namely, the UK is already seriously overpopulated, and needs thousands or millions of new inhabitants the way an obese man needs a slap-up dinner at Macdonalds.
Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,
a lot of poor white boys(and gIrls) are rude, lazy, ignorant ,selfish yobs who think the rest of us and the country owe them a good wage and respect while they can do whatever they want.
a lot of existing and recent immigrants work hard,keep out of trouble,pay their dues.
whos gonna go??????????
jonathan charles gale, lymington, hants
Enoch Powell's speech was taken seriously in 1968 but he didn't have the benifit of Blair speechwriters ('career' lobby groups like the CRE, EOC, paid for by the taxpayer). Me, I will continue with my PHD on 'whether there is a glass ceiling for women in local authority' paid for by them...
Austin Tassletine, South West, UK
The BNP are feeding on the resentment that the majority feel with regards to newcomers being given instant equal parity rather than earning their place. This is not a classles society and it is time newcomers realised it!
kevin, Lincoln, UK
Gary of Letchworth.
Here is one particular person who has gone overseas. He still pays tax in the UK, for which he receives absolutely nothing. In nine years time he wont even get a vote as to how his taxes are spent. His family, children and grand children live in the UK.
Enough said
Charles, Northern France,
Quote 'To be sure, the problems of racial discrimination against minorities haven’t gone away – black and Asian young men are still up to seven times more likely to be arrested by the police' unquote. Just when are you going to learn Phillips? There is none so blind than those who will not see.
Roger, Surrey,
Major shifts in demographics seed conflict. Some more bloody than others, Balkans, Darfur, Ruanda and countless others. Peoples have alway fought to save their way of life, culture & values. In Britain this right has been stolen by ignorant Nulab politicians & civil servants. BNP may restore them
Alexander, Victoria,
It certainly is "funny" how these people who have gone overseas now see fit to complain about immigrants to the UK!!
I think you lot should look up hypocritical in the dictionary.
Gary, Letchworth, herts, UK
Phillips' claim that he's not in support of minorities is quite right re women. Women are in the majority, but are over-privileged. The truly disadvantaged sub-group in all societies is that of (lower status) men. But his PC fascism won't recognise this.
(Steve Moxon: author of The Woman Racket.)
Steve Moxon, Sheffield,
The main problem is that this government has encouraged the "why bother" class by giving handouts and making them dependent on the state. We have to go back to the old values of hard work and also parents being responsible for their offspring.
Hamad Lone, London, England
'It was the shell suits that alerted me ... the BNP always feels like a knuckle-dragging chav comedy turn.' Yes, that's what we'd have heard if the party had turned up in scruffy casuals.
Is their any chance of objective reporting about the BNP? What exactly are their policies?
J Davis, Sydney, Australia
At last, a clear and concise analysis of the whole picture. I hope that Trevor Phillips will be listened to and given the resources he needs to find and implement solutions.
Xanthe Adams, St Ives, UK
Blacks are stopped 7 more times then whites !. They are getting off lightly seeing that the crime rate for Blacks is 12 times higher then whites. (official government statistics)
John, South London
John Wright, London, London
I liked Jane's remark' "they are not white, they are English"! Bingo! Globalisation is creating a large international class, not quite elite but influential, many of whom were English originally. England is becoming an international state and this is practically government policy.
Brian Lewis, Manila, Philippines
Britain's in big trouble and Mr Philips, after years of getting fat off the taxpayer, is bright enough to realise that it'll mean racial tensions going off the scale.
When things get hard people vote to the right, and the BNP won't be funding the lobster eating gravy train he's been on under nulab
vic k, sheffield, uk
The British would be far happier if all recent arrivals and newcomers to Britain had a significant qualifying period of, say 10 years, before they could access welfare benefits and social housing, with medical treatment being provided by insurance policies in place before they arrive in UK>
Penny, London,
It is a pity that Enoch Powell's 'Rivers of Blood' speech was not taken seriously in 1968. Britain might have saved itself from the angst that is now appearing across the country.
John, London, England
Yes, most sane people have had enough. Enough of political "correctness". Imagine, people are now finally talking about "white" people too. When will "we" wise up?
ted stricland, Baton rouge, usa
The author seems to have statistics to back up all of his arguments save the central argument that immigration is "beneficial." Proove it, not in a qualitative multi-culti feel good way but quantitatively to the tax payers of the UK.
JB, Saskatoon (expat),
Education is paid hours of lip service by politicians. Targets mean that testing supplants learning; pupils at the bottom are left to their own devices while we focus on those who want to reach the standard. The 'unteachables' are excluded or otherwise concealed with managed moves between schools.
Diane M, London, UK
All these problems stem from multiculturalism. New culture means new order. Nobody shouts how the poor whites have contributed. Dismantling the culture, disenfranchises the poor. Poor whites cannot be preferred to imigrants without a cry of RACISM, therefore they have been relegated to last place.
JohnW, Oldham,
"Why should the Equality and Human Rights Commission care? (about white boys)" Well, because there's an election approaching and the BNP are standing in several hundred constituencies? They certainly haven't cared until now. As for 'extremists', it seems to me that they are currently in government.
Paul Williams, London, England
Trevor writes;
"I am deeply worried that they will grow into poor, disillusioned, alienated white men."
It's not just them.
Everyone's had enough- across the board.
Jez W, Leeds,
They are not white they are English. Perhaps when English children are treated with respect in their own country rather than as third rate citizens, things will change but until then it is a bloody disgrace.
jane, London, England
The most intelligent argued piece on immigration I've read in the press recently.
GF, London,
"Extremists gain leverage when the Establishment ... fails to talk about the issues that bother it."
The policies BNP gain ground with are not extreme. How hypocritical to say we need to talk about this whilst simultaneously discrediting the opposing argument. Pathetic anti-English rubbish.
Evita N Pudef, Bognor Regis, England