Race and Immigration (AQA A-Level History): Revision Notes
Race and Immigration
Immigration patterns by the late 1950s
By the end of the 1950s, Britain's non-white population stood at fewer than 200,000 people. These immigrant communities established themselves predominantly in major port cities including London, Cardiff, and Liverpool. Immigration flows originated from various Commonwealth regions, notably South Asia (particularly East Pakistan/Bangladesh and West Pakistan), east Africa (Kenya and Uganda), west Africa, the West Indies, and Ireland.
The concentration of immigrant communities in port cities reflected both the routes of arrival and the availability of employment in these industrial and commercial centres. These cities had long histories of international trade and diverse populations, making them natural initial destinations for new arrivals.
Cultural differences and social tensions
While immigration numbers generated debate, deeper anxieties stemmed from perceived cultural differences between new arrivals and the established British population. South Asian immigrants practised Islam, Hinduism, or other religions unfamiliar to most British people. Visible differences extended beyond faith: immigrants spoke English with distinct accents, wore different clothing, consumed different foods, and exhibited different social behaviours.
These cultural markers provoked unease about Britain's future direction, extending well beyond concerns about employment and housing availability. The anxieties were fundamentally about cultural identity and social change rather than purely economic considerations.
The National Front
The National Front (NF) emerged in the mid-1960s as a right-wing organisation primarily opposed to immigration. The movement adopted broader nationalist positions, rejecting British membership of the United Nations, NATO, the European Economic Community, and opposing communism. It also challenged the developing liberal social agenda, including proposals to legalise homosexual relationships between men.
The NF employed crime statistics strategically, claiming that immigrant presence caused increased robbery and violence rates. It attributed unemployment problems to immigrant competition for jobs. The organisation pursued an extreme agenda: not merely restricting or halting immigration from Commonwealth nations in South Asia, the West Indies and west Africa, but demanding repatriation (forcible return) of immigrants already settled in Britain. Throughout the early 1970s, NF membership expanded, though it remained largely confined to working-class supporters and struggled to broaden its appeal.
The party achieved limited electoral breakthrough. In a 1973 by-election in West Bromwich West, the NF candidate secured 16.2% of votes cast. Beyond formal elections, the organisation maintained visibility through street demonstrations, naturally attracting media attention and concern from established political parties.
The NF's effectiveness was ultimately compromised by internal disagreements and divisions. Additionally, some members (including prominent figures) had previously belonged to openly neo-fascist or neo-Nazi organisations, damaging the movement's credibility.
Margaret Thatcher's response
Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher undermined the NF through a calculated political strategy. She expressed measured sympathy for the anxieties of NF supporters whilst rejecting the organisation's extreme positions. Thatcher acknowledged immigration concerns in moderate language, stating:
"We do not talk about [immigration] perhaps as much as we should. In my view, that is one thing that is driving some people to the National Front. They do not agree with the objectives of the National Front, but they say that at least they are talking about some of the problems... If we do not want people to go to extremes... we must show that we are prepared to deal with it."
This approach proved effective. By acknowledging popular concerns about immigration whilst maintaining distance from extremist solutions, Thatcher drew NF supporters back towards the Conservative party during the 1979 election. Her intervention demonstrated both political calculation and an understanding of how to communicate reassurance whilst avoiding inflammatory rhetoric.
The Anti-Nazi League
The Anti-Nazi League (ANL) was established in 1977 by members of left-wing parties, operating specifically as a campaign against far-right organisations, individuals and policies. Though much of its effort targeted the National Front, it also challenged more explicitly neo-Nazi parties and groups.
The ANL received support from various MPs, trade unions, and some prominent public figures who appeared at meetings and concerts organised by the ANL to raise public awareness and generate funds. These cultural events proved particularly effective in reaching younger audiences and mobilising opposition to far-right movements.
By the late 1970s, the NF no longer posed the threat it had earlier in the decade. The ANL formally disbanded, though other anti-fascist organisations persisted or emerged subsequently, just as other far-right groups and political parties arose to replace the declining National Front.
Government immigration legislation
Both Conservative and Labour governments adopted similar positions regarding new arrivals during the 1970s. Their approach comprised two elements: immigration policy (controlling entry) and race-relations policy (governing treatment of people already resident).
Labour minister Roy Hattersley articulated the prevailing view shared across party lines: "Without integration limitation is inexcusable; without limitation integration is impossible." Both parties sought to pass legislation regulating the rate of immigrant arrivals whilst simultaneously establishing laws governing how people should be treated once resident.
The 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act (passed by a Conservative government) limited entry to Britain for Commonwealth citizens by restricting access to those holding one of a limited number of government-issued employment vouchers.
The 1968 Commonwealth Immigrants Act (passed by Labour) reduced Commonwealth citizens' rights of entry to the UK. Only those born in Britain plus those with at least one parent or grandparent born there could enter freely. Further restrictions followed in the 1971 Immigration Act.
Migration data from 1970-80 shows fluctuating patterns. Net migration (the balance between immigration and emigration) remained relatively low, with emigration sometimes exceeding immigration. Immigration levels fluctuated between approximately 200,000-300,000 annually, whilst emigration ranged similarly, resulting in modest net migration figures throughout the decade.
Race relations legislation
Alongside immigration control, governments attempted to prohibit racism through legislation establishing that immigrants should be treated as citizens rather than foreigners once resident.
The 1965 Race Relations Act made discriminatory actions criminal offences. Refusing to serve someone in a bar or restaurant, or denying people jobs based on their race, became civil (though not criminal) offences. The Act also established the Race Relations Board to receive and investigate complaints from 1966 onwards.
The 1968 Race Relations Act extended these provisions. Shops and boarding houses could no longer refuse service based on race. The 1976 Race Relations Act widened the law's reach further, extending into discrimination in employment, education and the operations of the state's own agencies. In 1976, the monitoring body became the Commission for Racial Equality, replacing the earlier Race Relations Board.
This legislative framework demonstrated governmental recognition that controlling immigration numbers alone proved insufficient. Legal protections against discrimination aimed to ensure fair treatment for immigrant communities already established in Britain, though enforcement remained challenging and discrimination persisted despite legal prohibition.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Britain's non-white population remained below 200,000 by the late 1950s, concentrated in major port cities including London, Cardiff and Liverpool.
- The National Front emerged in the mid-1960s opposing immigration and demanding repatriation, achieving limited electoral success (16.2% in West Bromwich West, 1973) before internal divisions undermined it.
- Margaret Thatcher weakened the NF by acknowledging immigration concerns in moderate language whilst rejecting extremism, drawing supporters back to the Conservative party.
- Both major parties pursued dual policies: restricting immigration (1962, 1968, 1971 Acts) whilst legislating against racial discrimination (1965, 1968, 1976 Race Relations Acts).
- The Anti-Nazi League, founded in 1977, campaigned against far-right organisations through public meetings and concerts, formally ending by the late 1970s as the NF threat diminished.