Chef - describes a visit to Leicester "as one of the most frightening experiences of my life".

[flowwolf]

Like I said it depends on peoples views of mass immigration, I grew up in the 70's and 80's and although there were stories about immigration it was nowhere near the level you hear today, most who are anti immigration will state the situation has got much worse in the past decade or so.

I agree there will always be those who come to this country and isolate themsleves there also will be those who will try and get as much as they can from our benefit system but thanffully these people are in a minority. I think more should be done to help immigrants intergrate but its not easy, just look at those who emigrate from the UK...they tend to move to places that already have ex pats and seem to want the same lifestyle they had in this country just in a sunnier place, I think its human nature to do so. As for eastern europeans coming here many dont realise how few stay for very long up to 90% leave within 2 years.

But anyway...its a seperate point, I feel very safe in leicester I genuinely find it a nice city and friendly, I guess others don't.

Ah but Ronnie there has been even more mass immigration since your day, did you not notice thousands of Polish , East European's, Romanians , Somalia's flooding into Leicester ? if not i suggest you should do like the advert says and go to spec savers or get down to Humberstonegate.

And like I said it is not down to peoples views of mass immigration it is down to facts. And exactly why should we do anything to help immigrants to integrate surely that should be their top priority, it is they who have chosen to come to this country and if they want to make a go of it as the majority of Asians have they need to change not us.

Oh and the reason you don't hear so much about the amount of immigration these days is because the government and the press make sure you don't know about it .

And in the interest of balance At least we don't have an immigrant version of the Jeremy Kyle show.

[Rincewind]

Taken from the Leicester Homelessness Review.

2.1. About Leicester

Leicester City is a highly urbanised and culturally diverse city with a population of 289,700

(2006 mid-year estimate based on Census projections). It is the largest city in the East

Midlands and the tenth largest in the country. 20% of households contain a person with a

disability. The population is forecast to increase by 12,700 by 2012 and latest forecasts

suggest an increase in the working age population and children.

Leicester has a relatively high percentage of black and minority ethnic (BME) residents,

currently estimated at 40% (The Diversity of Leicester: A Demographic Profile May 2008). A

wide variety of ethnic communities have been living in the City for a number of years

supplemented by asylum seekers, refugees and migrants from within the European Union.

Leicester has a reputation of being a culturally diverse and safe city.

Leicester’s unemployment rate is currently 9.1%, which is higher than the national average of

5.4% (Nomis, Oct 06 – Sept 07, International Labour Force definition of unemployment). The

City has a high level of deprivation with household income, rates of pay and skill levels all

below the regional average. According to the DCLG 2007 Index of Multiple Deprivation,

Leicester is now ranked in the 6% most deprived authorities nationally, and ranked 20th most

deprived authority nationally out of 354.

There are approximately 122,500 dwellings in the City, of which more than a quarter were built

before 1919. The overall housing tenure is estimated at 59% owner occupied (71,743), 12%

private rented (14,456), 19% rented from the local authority (22,664), 8% rented from a

housing association (10,201), and 3% other rented.

[flowwolf]

Taken from the Leicester Homelessness Review.

2.1. About Leicester

Leicester City is a highly urbanised and culturally diverse city with a population of 289,700

(2006 mid-year estimate based on Census projections). It is the largest city in the East

Midlands and the tenth largest in the country. 20% of households contain a person with a

disability. The population is forecast to increase by 12,700 by 2012 and latest forecasts

suggest an increase in the working age population and children.

Leicester has a relatively high percentage of black and minority ethnic (BME) residents,

currently estimated at 40% (The Diversity of Leicester: A Demographic Profile May 2008). A

wide variety of ethnic communities have been living in the City for a number of years

supplemented by asylum seekers, refugees and migrants from within the European Union.

Leicester has a reputation of being a culturally diverse and safe city.

Leicester’s unemployment rate is currently 9.1%, which is higher than the national average of

5.4% (Nomis, Oct 06 – Sept 07, International Labour Force definition of unemployment). The

City has a high level of deprivation with household income, rates of pay and skill levels all

below the regional average. According to the DCLG 2007 Index of Multiple Deprivation,

Leicester is now ranked in the 6% most deprived authorities nationally, and ranked 20th most

deprived authority nationally out of 354.

There are approximately 122,500 dwellings in the City, of which more than a quarter were built

before 1919. The overall housing tenure is estimated at 59% owner occupied (71,743), 12%

private rented (14,456), 19% rented from the local authority (22,664), 8% rented from a

housing association (10,201), and 3% other rented.

And the beat goes on .

[Rincewind]

The report is about 112 pages long. Do yo think I can read it all by Thursday. Peter Soulsby is at the Brite Centre Braunstone and a team of us are going there to see what he says, then grill him. (not in the toasting sense)

There is spending on new City Centre develoments Jubilee Square etc yet funding and homeless places in hostels are being cut.

His manifesto for Mayor said they wouldn't.

So what shall I ask him?

[flowwolf]

The report is about 112 pages long. Do yo think I can read it all by Thursday. Peter Soulsby is at the Brite Centre Braunstone and a team of us are going there to see what he says, then grill him. (not in the toasting sense)

There is spending on new City Centre develoments Jubilee Square etc yet funding and homeless places in hostels are being cut.

His manifesto for Mayor said they wouldn't.

So what shall I ask him?

Ask him how much did the council spend on the electricity bill and lights for the Melton rd Diwali celebrations then ask him why the council tax payer should have footed the bill, then go for his throat and demand to know why that money could not have been spent on the homeless. please let us know his answer.

[Rincewind]

I guess they put the lights on because people of all cultures enjoy it.

(quote)Happily this fear amounted to little and the Asian culture is widely excepted in Leicester due to their diligence and hard work and for the main part their integration into British society. My wife and I went to the Diwali celebrations in Melton road and what a wonderful evening it was. People happy, enjoying themselves and very happy to see white people joining them in their celebrations, Full of colour with women wearing the traditional Sari and a fantastic firework display. I would recommend anyone to go down next year and take it all in.(/quote)

[BunkMoreland]

"20% of households contain a person with a disability."

Don't know exactly how they define disability but that seems incredibly high. Assuming 4 people per house and a population of 280k you've got 70k houses therefore 14,000 disabled people in the city. Surely not.

[Guest MattP]

"20% of households contain a person with a disability."

Don't know exactly how they define disability but that seems incredibly high. Assuming 4 people per house and a population of 280k you've got 70k houses therefore 14,000 disabled people in the city. Surely not.

Depends what you define as a disability nowadays, there is a guy in my local who stubbed his toe at work in 1998 and hasn't been back yet because of some sort of claimed injury. Doesn't stop his playing football mind.

[Captain...]

"20% of households contain a person with a disability."

Don't know exactly how they define disability but that seems incredibly high. Assuming 4 people per house and a population of 280k you've got 70k houses therefore 14,000 disabled people in the city. Surely not.

So that stat works out at 5% are registered disabled by your calculation.

looking at the statistics for Leicester from 2001 census, 6.5% of the population is over 75 and the majority of them will be registered disabled, so it is not that hard to believe.

[flowwolf]

I guess they put the lights on because people of all cultures enjoy it.

(quote)Happily this fear amounted to little and the Asian culture is widely excepted in Leicester due to their diligence and hard work and for the main part their integration into British society. My wife and I went to the Diwali celebrations in Melton road and what a wonderful evening it was. People happy, enjoying themselves and very happy to see white people joining them in their celebrations, Full of colour with women wearing the traditional Sari and a fantastic firework display. I would recommend anyone to go down next year and take it all in.(/quote)

Enjoying it is one thing being being strong armed into paying for it through council taxation is another. In the interest of balance I also object to tax payers money being spent on Christmas decorations. I hold no religious views what so ever so find it hard to understand why my council rates are being spent to glorify some ones idea of religious celebrations. I don't see the council chipping in towards my season ticket to watch city, that's my religion.

[Rincewind]

I sort of agree being non-religious myself but unfortunately you can't please everyone. If they didn't waste money on decorations it would be something else. Some would say that there should be decorations because they pay council tax. I don't have any kids so why do I pay towards the schools?

[Guest MattP]

I sort of agree being non-religious myself but unfortunately you can't please everyone. If they didn't waste money on decorations it would be something else. Some would say that there should be decorations because they pay council tax. I don't have any kids so why do I pay towards the schools?

Because education to a certain age is a right for all. You went to school, you benefitted so now you pay so others can.

[BunkMoreland]

Who actually pays for the Christmas decorations? I would have thought it would be the town centre businesses who stand to benefit from the attraction

[Rincewind]

Not sure. I think part comes from what the council brings in and part raised by other means.

[Captain...]

Who actually pays for the Christmas decorations? I would have thought it would be the town centre businesses who stand to benefit from the attraction

I don't know who pays but I assume it would be the council, they also pay the electricity bill, but the Diwali celebrations were also sponsored by O2 so that would have covered some of the cost, the fact that people come all over for the celebrations would also help the local economy.

[Rincewind]

In the magazine that was produced for it, one family said their family from India comes over and it is better than where they live.

[flowwolf]

I don't know who pays but I assume it would be the council, they also pay the electricity bill, but the Diwali celebrations were also sponsored by O2 so that would have covered some of the cost, the fact that people come all over for the celebrations would also help the local economy.

Ok that's fixed then.

[flowwolf]

In the magazine that was produced for it, one family said their family from India comes over and it is better than where they live.

My Dogs kennel is better than where they live.

[Parafox]

Below, taken from "The Diversity of Leicester" a draft work in progress document by LCC.

Quote

2. Ethnicity... 58% of Leicester’s population has a white ethnic background and 42% has an ethnic minority background (ONS Annual Population Survey (APS) 2008 the city is projected to have a non-white majority population sometime after 2011.

The white British population will remain the largest ethnic group in terms of White, Asian and Black groups (Demographics of Leicester, 2008)

34% of Leicester’s population was born outside the UK

(APS 2008)

28% of Leicester’s minority ethnic population are Gujarati Indians, originally either from India or from East Africa, especially Kenya and Uganda (Demographics of Leicester, 2008) other smaller populations in the city include the African Caribbean and Somali populations as well as Polish, Pakistanis, Zimbabweans, Bangladeshis, Middle Eastern, other African and Chinese people (LCC 2010)

57% of Leicester City Council school pupils have an ethnic minority background. (School Census Spring 2011.This figure does not include approximately 11% of pupils who live in Leicester but who attend independent schools or those in the county.) unquote.

I have highlighted some points that I feel are misleading, though undoubtedly true.

First point in bold... this doen't mean white British. It includes other white ethnic groups such as eastern europeans. On the same paragraph; does the statement at the end give you any consternation?

2nd point... this is spin. White British might make up (for example) 40% of the population but that is a minority figure when compared with the remaining 60% who are non white.

3rd point... This doesn't give any indication of non-white British people born INSIDE the UK. I can't find the figures on-line so you might think I'm speculating, I may well be, but my gut instinct is that the majority of people born in Leicester since 2008 will be of non-British (and probably non-white British) parents.

4th... this speaks for itself.

Now, some may think I'm being racist. I am NOT. Categorically.

I do, however, feel that LCC cloak the truth in jargon to suit and that the true situation in Leicester is that the white British indigenous population are NOW in the minority.

[sphericalfox]

Below, taken from "The Diversity of Leicester" a draft work in progress document by LCC.

Quote

2. Ethnicity... 58% of Leicester’s population has a white ethnic background and 42% has an ethnic minority background (ONS Annual Population Survey (APS) 2008 the city is projected to have a non-white majority population sometime after 2011.

The white British population will remain the largest ethnic group in terms of White, Asian and Black groups (Demographics of Leicester, 2008)

34% of Leicester’s population was born outside the UK

(APS 2008)

28% of Leicester’s minority ethnic population are Gujarati Indians, originally either from India or from East Africa, especially Kenya and Uganda (Demographics of Leicester, 2008) other smaller populations in the city include the African Caribbean and Somali populations as well as Polish, Pakistanis, Zimbabweans, Bangladeshis, Middle Eastern, other African and Chinese people (LCC 2010)

57% of Leicester City Council school pupils have an ethnic minority background. (School Census Spring 2011.This figure does not include approximately 11% of pupils who live in Leicester but who attend independent schools or those in the county.) unquote.

I have highlighted some points that I feel are misleading, though undoubtedly true.

First point in bold... this doen't mean white British. It includes other white ethnic groups such as eastern europeans. On the same paragraph; does the statement at the end give you any consternation?

2nd point... this is spin. White British might make up (for example) 40% of the population but that is a minority figure when compared with the remaining 60% who are non white.

3rd point... This doesn't give any indication of non-white British people born INSIDE the UK. I can't find the figures on-line so you might think I'm speculating, I may well be, but my gut instinct is that the majority of people born in Leicester since 2008 will be of non-British (and probably non-white British) parents.

4th... this speaks for itself.

Now, some may think I'm being racist. I am NOT. Categorically.

I do, however, feel that LCC cloak the truth in jargon to suit and that the true situation in Leicester is that the white British indigenous population are NOW in the minority.

Para I know you are not a racist, but using the word situation in your post implies that something is wrong, and i'm not referring to any speculative spin of figures from LCC.

[Carl the Llama]

In response to your 2nd point: Why does that matter? Is it 'us' against 'them'?

[purpleronnie]

Below, taken from "The Diversity of Leicester" a draft work in progress document by LCC.

Quote

2. Ethnicity... 58% of Leicester’s population has a white ethnic background and 42% has an ethnic minority background (ONS Annual Population Survey (APS) 2008 the city is projected to have a non-white majority population sometime after 2011.

The white British population will remain the largest ethnic group in terms of White, Asian and Black groups (Demographics of Leicester, 2008)

34% of Leicester’s population was born outside the UK

(APS 2008)

28% of Leicester’s minority ethnic population are Gujarati Indians, originally either from India or from East Africa, especially Kenya and Uganda (Demographics of Leicester, 2008) other smaller populations in the city include the African Caribbean and Somali populations as well as Polish, Pakistanis, Zimbabweans, Bangladeshis, Middle Eastern, other African and Chinese people (LCC 2010)

57% of Leicester City Council school pupils have an ethnic minority background. (School Census Spring 2011.This figure does not include approximately 11% of pupils who live in Leicester but who attend independent schools or those in the county.) unquote.

I have highlighted some points that I feel are misleading, though undoubtedly true.

First point in bold... this doen't mean white British. It includes other white ethnic groups such as eastern europeans. On the same paragraph; does the statement at the end give you any consternation?

2nd point... this is spin. White British might make up (for example) 40% of the population but that is a minority figure when compared with the remaining 60% who are non white.

3rd point... This doesn't give any indication of non-white British people born INSIDE the UK. I can't find the figures on-line so you might think I'm speculating, I may well be, but my gut instinct is that the majority of people born in Leicester since 2008 will be of non-British (and probably non-white British) parents.

4th... this speaks for itself.

Now, some may think I'm being racist. I am NOT. Categorically.

I do, however, feel that LCC cloak the truth in jargon to suit and that the true situation in Leicester is that the white British indigenous population are NOW in the minority.

so what.

[Parafox]

In response to your 2nd point: Why does that matter? Is it 'us' against 'them'?

No.I'm raising the point that LCC are not, IN MY VIEW, being totally forthright.

@ Spherical. "situation" is a word i used and was not meant to imply anything. I could have said "position" or any

other suitable word.

@purpleronnie... So nothing, you missed the point that it's LCC I am being suspicious of.

[Vacamion]

This:

[Parafox]

Don't get me wrong, I'm in favour of diversity, multi-culturalism, integration and a rich ethnic mix.

Some of my best meals have been curries.

I just don't trust LCC.