A new study has found that Britain is the least partial against immigrants. The findings, that are published in the Frontiers in Sociology journal said, prejudices are more common in poorer nations than rich English speaking nations. It is said that British levels of prejudices against immigrant workers and people 'of a different race' were found to be 'relatively low' as was bias against Hindus, Jews, Gipsies, and Muslims.
The Daily Mail reported that according to that report in Bulgaria and Latvia, around 20 per cent would shun neighbours of a different religion. Prejudice against foreign workers in Europe was found to be worst in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovakia. Spain, Italy, Finland, and Germany were all found to be 'a little more prejudiced' regarding religion than the UK.
In Britain, only around 10 percent of Britons would rather not have neighbours of a different religion. 15 percent of Britons reportedly would object to having migrants as neighbours, with around 10 percent objecting to neighbours of a different race.
The UK was found to have ordinary levels of anti-immigrant worker prejudice for its level of socio-economic development. Poland and Hungary were among the most tolerant of the poorer countries, showing low levels compared with nations that have a similar GDP.
France and the USA are both found to be more tolerant of having neighbours of a different race. However according to the survey, Bangladesh is on 98thposition, while India is featured on the 96thposition- therefore more racist than UK, which is featured 23rdon the list, ranked from least racist to most by study.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Arun Bhatnagar a chartered accountant in Birmingham said that he does not think Britain is all that equal when it comes to tolerance towards ethnic minority, “Britain is a fair country as far as its judiciary is concerned. But when you look at reports on diversity, where people from ethnic minority are paid less than their white counterparts, you can understand we are not treated as equals.”
Raghav Venkatraman, an IT specialist told the newsweekly, “The survey could be true. But I have had my neighbours complaining of curry smell, when we cook. Remember that landlord who refused to rent his hpuse out to immigrants to avoid curry smell? I don't think this country is all that tolerant. I don't agree that India is more partial than the UK.”
Saira Mahmood, an architect, who was born and brought up in this country said, “When people say there are no prejuduces in this country, I will not agree. If you have a Muslim name in the UK, your struggles are higher – whether it is a job or otherwise. The visa issues and hostility that highly-skilled migrants face, to a lot extend is because of the prejudices Briton has towards immigrants. Shamima Begum's case is a live example. She is asking to 'go' back to a country she was not born in or came from. Britain is her home.”
However, according to the 2011 census more than 1.45mn Indians, 1.17mn Pakistanis and over 450,000 Bangladeshis are living in the UK, making it one of the mist diverse countries in the world.
