Migration into the United Kingdom

The majority of the UK population are descended from immigrants like the Romans, Vikings, Angles, Saxons and Normans. There has been a history of settlement from Ireland for many centuries. During and after the second world war many also other Europeans immigrated.

From Old Commonwealth (Australia, New Zealand and Canada) a few descendents of earlier British migrants came to the UK. After the second world war a lot of migrants came from New Commonwealth (former British colonies like India) because there were not enough workers in Britain and they wanted to make money when their own islands were overcrowded.

After the division of India in the 1950's groups of Asians immigrated as religious or political refugees.

To restrict immigration the government decided that migrants have got to have relatives already living in the UK or be specially qualified in a way that Britain needs (i.e. doctors). People that have been evicted from their home country but have got a British passport or genuine refugees can immigrate to the UK too. These ethnic minorities only make up 5.8% of the UK population but the number is growing. Almost half have been born in the UK. There is an uneven concentration of these ethnic groups: 78% of them live in conurbations. They tend to group together in a particular area in which they are isolated in result of differences in religion, skin color, wealth,.... These inner city areas are often described very negatively even though there also is a lot of positive activity in the communities. However there are tensions because these migrants are often still discriminated and tend to earn less. Unemployment often exceeds 70%. The living conditions of migrants are usually much worse than those of natives (overcrowded, poor-quality housing) and education may be a problem for the children. The lack of trust between the authorities and the migrants often creates difficulties.