Are white working class people ignored in Britain?

[davieG]

A poll by the BBC's Newsnight programme to discover the views of the white working class has found that more than half think nobody speaks out for people like them. Do you agree?

The poll was in response to BBC Two’s 'White season', which explores issues concerning the white working class in 21st century Britain.

The survey also suggests that compared to the white middle class, more of the white working class are pessimistic about their future and think crime has got worse. It also suggests that a higher proportion of them are finding it difficult to afford housing and believe that Britain has generally got worse over the last 10 years.

On immigration, more white working class people questioned in the survey thought it was a bad thing, compared to other social classes. On the issue of new immigrants taking their jobs, 27% of those surveyed said immigrants had put their jobs at risk, compared to 13% of the middle class.

Story Source

[Dr The Singh]

A poll by the BBC's Newsnight programme to discover the views of the white working class has found that more than half think nobody speaks out for people like them. Do you agree?

The poll was in response to BBC Two’s 'White season', which explores issues concerning the white working class in 21st century Britain.

The survey also suggests that compared to the white middle class, more of the white working class are pessimistic about their future and think crime has got worse. It also suggests that a higher proportion of them are finding it difficult to afford housing and believe that Britain has generally got worse over the last 10 years.

On immigration, more white working class people questioned in the survey thought it was a bad thing, compared to other social classes. On the issue of new immigrants taking their jobs, 27% of those surveyed said immigrants had put their jobs at risk, compared to 13% of the middle class.

Story Source

I can imagine alot of 'white ' and those that have been here for a while to feel alittle alienated. All area's of social services\public sector etc are under strain from the influx of migrants, hence many aren't getting the services they think there entitled to and hence look at those that have and think that they have taken those services away from them!!

[purpleronnie]

Most people take there information about immigration from the tabloids, unfortunately its always one sided and dosent portray how many great things the immigrant community do, so I feel most peoples opinion isnt based on reality.

So to answer the question...no.

[Zingari]

Most people take there information about immigration from the tabloids, unfortunately its always one sided and dosent portray how many great things the immigrant community do, so I feel most peoples opinion isnt based on reality.

So to answer the question...no.

if you think that is the case then read this article thats not from a tabloid (its quite old but i think there are still some good points to consider)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jh.../ixopinion.html

[davieG]

Most people take there information about immigration from the tabloids, unfortunately its always one sided and dosent portray how many great things the immigrant community do, so I feel most peoples opinion isnt based on reality.

So to answer the question...no.

Well actually the answer is yes they do, the question is - is it justified and if not how can it be proved, if it is justified how can it be improved.

[davieG]

As an ageing white working class guy I feel I'm worse off than I used to be,

I can't get a job because I'm too old and yet I'm expected to work beyond 65.

Access to services like Dentists etc is now worse even though I'm paying more as a % of my income on indirect/direct taxes - I've not got an NHS dentist and I've got to wait over a year to have a hearing test

I've worked and saved for 40+ years and accrued a small pension which makes be ineligible for any kind of benefits yet eligible for tax - yet those who've squander the earnings get these benefits

I see the rich getting richer beyond their needs and the poor getting poorer and can't satisfy some basic needs

These are just some of the negatives, now whether this is down to over population, incompetent governments, a result of a winner takes all / I'm all right jack culture or a natural progression of a developing society I don't know but in general the basics of life where it really matters are now worse than they were 20 years ago from my perspective.

[Babylon]

I'm fed up of being taxed to the hilt. Council tax, water, gas, electric, petrol, food, housing etc all going up way out of line with my wages.

Knowing if I lose my job no fecker will help me because i've been good and saved a bit of money.... yet lazy feckers who don't want to do anything get it handed to them on a plate.

I'm sick and tired of left wingers preaching to us and forcing things upon us. Just so they can tick the diversity box on their forms. So what is you don't have that many ethnic/women police officers, just get the best people for the job.

So what is the proms aren't "inclusive"... do they not sell tickets to ethnics? Yes they do!!! They don't go because it's not their thing. Just like going to a bangra festival isn't mine. Doesn't mean they have to play a bit of bloody oasis to make me feel "included".

As a white middle class male of 28... I certainly do feel like nobody particularly gives a flying fook what I think or If I feel "included" or whether my rights are infringed.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Someone made an interesting comment on Radio 5 today that what has actually happened is that there has been this influx of immigrants and the government has not expanded their services to account for it.

Things like the selling off of council houses... where did the money from that go? They certainly didn't build new ones, which could have been used to house the immigrants. Therefore the immigrants had to go in what was available - which as I've just stated, had been radically reduced!

There is also an element of WHITE middle to upper class (though really, do we still have "classes"? Surely it's just richer and poorer now?) exploiting the immigrant influx (ie, employing them cheaply to their gain) and even encouraging more to come over.

Basically the governments (tory and labour) of the last 30 years have done little for working-class Britain as a whole.

[Dr The Singh]

I'm fed up of being taxed to the hilt. Council tax, water, gas, electric, petrol, food, housing etc all going up way out of line with my wages.

Knowing if I lose my job no fecker will help me because i've been good and saved a bit of money.... yet lazy feckers who don't want to do anything get it handed to them on a plate.

I'm sick and tired of left wingers preaching to us and forcing things upon us. Just so they can tick the diversity box on their forms. So what is you don't have that many ethnic/women police officers, just get the best people for the job.

So what is the proms aren't "inclusive"... do they not sell tickets to ethnics? Yes they do!!! They don't go because it's not their thing. Just like going to a bangra festival isn't mine. Doesn't mean they have to play a bit of bloody oasis to make me feel "included".

As a white middle class male of 28... I certainly do feel like nobody particularly gives a flying fook what I think or If I feel "included" or whether my rights are infringed.

Majority of what you have said applies for all working\middle class people, but I can empathise with modern day political correctness and the idea of integration, most of which is mooted by upper class whites who have no idea what ethnics want or percieve!!

Things are so ludicrious that some idiots think we should have a statue of gandhi, put up in our city because it represents the multiculturalism of our city. What the fook has he done for our city, we don't need a statue of a indian to represent multiculturalism. Plus it is a well known fact that Gandhi was a racist, what a joke:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,301...9,00.html?f=rss

Unlikely Clash: Gandhi Vs Gary Lineker

Updated:12:32, Wednesday March 05, 2008

A row over a city statue has pitted the pioneer of passive resistance Mahatma Gandhi against former England football captain Gary Lineker.

Spiritual leader and strikerCharity Samanwaya Parivar plans to build a 12-ft bronze figure of the assassinated Indian leader in Leicester.

The city is home to the UK's largest Asian population and Leicester MP Keith Vaz sees the £20,000 memorial as an "excellent symbol of (Gandhi's) and Leicester's commitment to diversity".

But a "No Gandhi Statue" petition was launched by some who believe there are local heroes who would be more appropriate.

They have suggested Match Of The Day pundit Lineker, who started his footballing career at Leicester City, scoring 95 goals for the club.

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The No Gandhi campaigners have also petitioned on the Downing Street website, reportedly with 211 signatures.

But the charity's Jitendra Acharya told The Independent: "We have never said that there should not be any other statues in Leicester.

"(A Gandhi statue) will add to the vibrant and multicultural elements of this city since Gandhi's philosophies of truth, peace and non-violence had no boundaries."

According to the 2001 census, around 26% of Leicester's population of 280,000 are of Indian origin - a reason the city is sometimes called Little India.

The Attenborough brothersMohandas Karamchand Gandhi led the Indian Independence Movement and his philosophy of non-violent protest has inspired civil rights campaigners across the world.

Gary Winston Lineker OBE scored 48 goals for England, including 10 in two World Cups. He was never booked his entire career.

Many famous people come from Leicester like: King Richard III; Broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough; his brother actor and director Richard Attenborough; music bands Cornershop and Kasabian; singer Engelbert Humperdinck and playwright Joe Orton.

[Babylon]

Things are so ludicrious that some idiots think we should have a statue of gandhi, put up in our city because it represents the multiculturalism of our city. What the fook has he done for our city, we don't need a statue of a indian to represent multiculturalism. Plus it is a well known fact that Gandhi was a racist, what a joke:

It doesn't particularly bother me really. It's going to be in belgrave and not the city centre, had it been more central then i'm sure there would be someone locally more fitting. I can certainly see the argument of it encouraging/increasing segregation though.

As long as other areas of the county are allowed to put up statues also... Melton can have a bronze pork pie, Market Harborough a bronze upper class twit and saffron lane a bronze 16 year old with a push chair.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Majority of what you have said applies for all working\middle class people, but I can empathise with modern day political correctness and the idea of integration, most of which is mooted by upper class whites who have no idea what ethnics want or percieve!!

Things are so ludicrious that some idiots think we should have a statue of gandhi, put up in our city because it represents the multiculturalism of our city. What the fook has he done for our city, we don't need a statue of a indian to represent multiculturalism. Plus it is a well known fact that Gandhi was a racist, what a joke:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,301...9,00.html?f=rss

Unlikely Clash: Gandhi Vs Gary Lineker

Updated:12:32, Wednesday March 05, 2008

A row over a city statue has pitted the pioneer of passive resistance Mahatma Gandhi against former England football captain Gary Lineker.

Spiritual leader and strikerCharity Samanwaya Parivar plans to build a 12-ft bronze figure of the assassinated Indian leader in Leicester.

The city is home to the UK's largest Asian population and Leicester MP Keith Vaz sees the £20,000 memorial as an "excellent symbol of (Gandhi's) and Leicester's commitment to diversity".

But a "No Gandhi Statue" petition was launched by some who believe there are local heroes who would be more appropriate.

They have suggested Match Of The Day pundit Lineker, who started his footballing career at Leicester City, scoring 95 goals for the club.

Advertisement

The No Gandhi campaigners have also petitioned on the Downing Street website, reportedly with 211 signatures.

But the charity's Jitendra Acharya told The Independent: "We have never said that there should not be any other statues in Leicester.

"(A Gandhi statue) will add to the vibrant and multicultural elements of this city since Gandhi's philosophies of truth, peace and non-violence had no boundaries."

According to the 2001 census, around 26% of Leicester's population of 280,000 are of Indian origin - a reason the city is sometimes called Little India.

The Attenborough brothersMohandas Karamchand Gandhi led the Indian Independence Movement and his philosophy of non-violent protest has inspired civil rights campaigners across the world.

Gary Winston Lineker OBE scored 48 goals for England, including 10 in two World Cups. He was never booked his entire career.

Many famous people come from Leicester like: King Richard III; Broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough; his brother actor and director Richard Attenborough; music bands Cornershop and Kasabian; singer Engelbert Humperdinck and playwright Joe Orton.

I think you'll find that London and Birmingham have MORE Asians, simply because they are much bigger cities. However, we may have the largest percentage, though the last I saw any news on that I think Bradford were well ahead of Leicester and Derby were at a similar percentage.

Can the city sue for misrepresentation?

[Trav Le Bleu]

It doesn't particularly bother me really. It's going to be in belgrave and not the city centre, had it been more central then i'm sure there would be someone locally more fitting. I can certainly see the argument of it encouraging/increasing segregation though.

As long as other areas of the county are allowed to put up statues also... Melton can have a bronze pork pie, Market Harborough a bronze upper class twit and saffron lane a bronze 16 year old with a push chair.

innit!

[Dr The Singh]

It doesn't particularly bother me really. It's going to be in belgrave and not the city centre, had it been more central then i'm sure there would be someone locally more fitting. I can certainly see the argument of it encouraging/increasing segregation though.

As long as other areas of the county are allowed to put up statues also... Melton can have a bronze pork pie, Market Harborough a bronze upper class twit and saffron lane a bronze 16 year old with a push chair.

Just cus it's on belgrave road, does not make it right, it's like saying...'belgrave road is for the gujarati's, so they can do what they like with it'...it's still part of the city, and Gandhi was not from Leicester, and does not represent the city, and to a lesser extent does not represent multiculturalism either!!

[Babylon]

Just cus it's on belgrave road, does not make it right, it's like saying...'belgrave road is for the gujarati's, so they can do what they like with it'...it's still part of the city, and Gandhi was not from Leicester, and does not represent the city, and to a lesser extent does not represent multiculturalism either!!

I'm not saying it's right... just that I don't really care. I don't think the council should provide the land though.

We have parks called "Nelson Mandella" and many other things named after people who don't come from Leicester. I don't see it as being much different.

[Babylon]

As someone said on another forum, we should have a statue of Dikkie Attenborough directing Ben Kingsly in Ghandi... that way everyone's a winner.

[danny.]

It doesn't particularly bother me really. It's going to be in belgrave and not the city centre, had it been more central then i'm sure there would be someone locally more fitting. I can certainly see the argument of it encouraging/increasing segregation though.

How does putting a statue of a hindu indian in a gujarati area make us more "multicultural"? Surely it just increases the divide even more.

[Dr The Singh]

I'm not saying it's right... just that I don't really care. I don't think the council should provide the land though.

We have parks called "Nelson Mandella" and many other things named after people who don't come from Leicester. I don't see it as being much different.

I see your point, but the park has a use for the general public, and is not a graven image of Mandela, I would have had no problem with them naming a park after a Indian icon other then Gandhi because that cooont was a racist, but a statue is a symbol, statement, a rememberance that reflects the people who see it!!!

[davieG]

As someone said on another forum, we should have a statue of Dikkie Attenborough directing Ben Kingsly in Ghandi... that way everyone's a winner.

Even the Attenboroughs weren't born in Leicester.

[Babylon]

Even the Attenboroughs weren't born in Leicester.

Look not many famous people were... we have to lay claim to as many as we can.

[Babylon]

How does putting a statue of a hindu indian in a gujarati area make us more "multicultural"? Surely it just increases the divide even more.

Don't ask me... I just said I can see why it would cause a divide.

[davieG]

Look not many famous people were... we have to lay claim to as many as we can.

Don't ask me... I just said I can see why it would cause a divide.

This is why we can't have statue of Gary Lineker as it would offend those Rugby Union types

[danny.]

Don't ask me... I just said I can see why it would cause a divide.

yea sorry, didn't really mean to quote you on that, was just a general comment.

[Babylon]

This is why we can't have statue of Gary Lineker as it would offend those Rugby Union types

You're correct though, you are never going to please everyone!!

[Fat Ron]

I see your point, but the park has a use for the general public, and is not a graven image of Mandela, I would have had no problem with them naming a park after a Indian icon other then Gandhi because that cooont was a racist, but a statue is a symbol, statement, a rememberance that reflects the people who see it!!!

Singh, I'm interested in your comment about Gandhi being a racist, could you explain?

Not wanting to sound ignorant, just unawareof the history and that was a perception of the man.

[Babylon]

Singh, I'm interested in your comment about Gandhi being a racist, could you explain?

Not wanting to sound ignorant, just unawareof the history and that was a perception of the man.

He was a founding member of the nazi party.