so brexit within a couple of hours of it being announced that we had voted to
being announced that we had voted to
being announced that we had voted to leave the European Union the key
leave the European Union the key
leave the European Union the key campaigners for brexit had backtracked
campaigners for brexit had backtracked
campaigners for brexit had backtracked on their key pledges perhaps most
on their key pledges perhaps most
on their key pledges perhaps most significantly the pledge that an extra
significantly the pledge that an extra
significantly the pledge that an extra 350 million pounds a week would go to
350 million pounds a week would go to
350 million pounds a week would go to the NHS alongside the political
the NHS alongside the political
the NHS alongside the political misrepresentations prior to the vote
misrepresentations prior to the vote
misrepresentations prior to the vote there have been a number of problematic
there have been a number of problematic
there have been a number of problematic claims made subsequent to the vote
claims made subsequent to the vote
claims made subsequent to the vote here the most dominant narrative has
here the most dominant narrative has
here the most dominant narrative has been that brexit was delivered by a
been that brexit was delivered by a
been that brexit was delivered by a disenfranchised left behind northern
disenfranchised left behind northern
disenfranchised left behind northern white working-class who were upset at
white working-class who were upset at
white working-class who were upset at the processes of economic globalization
the processes of economic globalization
the processes of economic globalization and the possibility or the lack of
and the possibility or the lack of
and the possibility or the lack of possibilities of progressed within the
possibilities of progressed within the
possibilities of progressed within the country and yet if we look at the
country and yet if we look at the
country and yet if we look at the figures as Danny dialling professor of
figures as Danny dialling professor of
figures as Danny dialling professor of geography at the University of Oxford
geography at the University of Oxford
geography at the University of Oxford has done we see a very different picture
has done we see a very different picture
has done we see a very different picture he argues that 52 percent of the people
he argues that 52 percent of the people
he argues that 52 percent of the people who voted for brexit were from the
who voted for brexit were from the
who voted for brexit were from the southern were from southern England not
southern were from southern England not
southern were from southern England not from the north 59 percent of people who
from the north 59 percent of people who
from the north 59 percent of people who voted for brexit were from the middle
voted for brexit were from the middle
voted for brexit were from the middle class not the working-class and from the
class not the working-class and from the
class not the working-class and from the lowest to social classes the proportion
lowest to social classes the proportion
lowest to social classes the proportion of people who voted for brexit was only
of people who voted for brexit was only
of people who voted for brexit was only 24% so the typical lis voter was not
24% so the typical lis voter was not
24% so the typical lis voter was not someone from the northern white
someone from the northern white
someone from the northern white working-class the typical lis voter was
working-class the typical lis voter was
working-class the typical lis voter was propertied pensioned well-off and likely
propertied pensioned well-off and likely
propertied pensioned well-off and likely to be from the white middle class living
to be from the white middle class living
to be from the white middle class living in the southern of living in southern
in the southern of living in southern
in the southern of living in southern England
England
England Lorenza antonucci who’s a researcher
Lorenza antonucci who’s a researcher
Lorenza antonucci who’s a researcher here in the city she’s done subsequent
here in the city she’s done subsequent
here in the city she’s done subsequent follow-up research
follow-up research
follow-up research and she’s found that there is no
and she’s found that there is no
and she’s found that there is no association between a self identifying
association between a self identifying
association between a self identifying yourself as working class and voting
yourself as working class and voting
yourself as working class and voting leave however there is an association
leave however there is an association
leave however there is an association between self identifying as middle class
between self identifying as middle class
between self identifying as middle class and voting leave if we look at the
and voting leave if we look at the
and voting leave if we look at the figures for the BM II population that is
figures for the BM II population that is
figures for the BM II population that is the black and ethnic minority citizens
the black and ethnic minority citizens
the black and ethnic minority citizens we see that 67% of Asians voted to
we see that 67% of Asians voted to
we see that 67% of Asians voted to remain 70% of Muslims
remain 70% of Muslims
remain 70% of Muslims voted to remain and 73% of
voted to remain and 73% of
voted to remain and 73% of afro-caribbean and black British
afro-caribbean and black British
afro-caribbean and black British citizens voted to remain if this had
citizens voted to remain if this had
citizens voted to remain if this had been a vote of people who were
been a vote of people who were
been a vote of people who were disenfranchised and upset at the
disenfranchised and upset at the
disenfranchised and upset at the consequences of economic globalization
consequences of economic globalization
consequences of economic globalization then we would have expected the vote for
then we would have expected the vote for
then we would have expected the vote for brexit to be much higher amongst these
brexit to be much higher amongst these
brexit to be much higher amongst these populations not least because as the
populations not least because as the
populations not least because as the recent race audit has demonstrated these
recent race audit has demonstrated these
recent race audit has demonstrated these are the populations who have suffered
are the populations who have suffered
are the populations who have suffered disproportionately as a consequence of
disproportionately as a consequence of
disproportionately as a consequence of such processes so if brexit is not about
such processes so if brexit is not about
such processes so if brexit is not about the white working-class then what is it
the white working-class then what is it
the white working-class then what is it about
about
about I would suggest here that we need to go
I would suggest here that we need to go
I would suggest here that we need to go back to one of the key refrains that was
back to one of the key refrains that was
back to one of the key refrains that was part of the discourse during the lead-up
part of the discourse during the lead-up
part of the discourse during the lead-up to the vote and the key refrain at that
to the vote and the key refrain at that
to the vote and the key refrain at that point was that we want our country back
point was that we want our country back
point was that we want our country back we want national sovereignty and the
we want national sovereignty and the
we want national sovereignty and the idea that was play at play during this
idea that was play at play during this
idea that was play at play during this time was the idea that Britain is a
time was the idea that Britain is a
time was the idea that Britain is a nation and it has a history as a nation
nation and it has a history as a nation
nation and it has a history as a nation and yet Britain isn’t the nation it’s
and yet Britain isn’t the nation it’s
and yet Britain isn’t the nation it’s never been a nation Britain came into
never been a nation Britain came into
never been a nation Britain came into being in 1707 through the union of the
being in 1707 through the union of the
being in 1707 through the union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland both
kingdoms of England and Scotland both
kingdoms of England and Scotland both England and Scotland had colonies prior
England and Scotland had colonies prior
England and Scotland had colonies prior to Union and after Union they went on to
to Union and after Union they went on to
to Union and after Union they went on to establish the British Empire the largest
establish the British Empire the largest
establish the British Empire the largest empire that the world had ever seen it
empire that the world had ever seen it
empire that the world had ever seen it covered one quarter of the world’s Earth
covered one quarter of the world’s Earth
covered one quarter of the world’s Earth Territory and it governed over one-fifth
Territory and it governed over one-fifth
Territory and it governed over one-fifth of its population this political
of its population this political
of its population this political formation stayed in place until 1948
formation stayed in place until 1948
formation stayed in place until 1948 when as a consequence of forms of
when as a consequence of forms of
when as a consequence of forms of decolonization and the various parts of
decolonization and the various parts of
decolonization and the various parts of empire the empire transfer
empire the empire transfer
empire the empire transfer formed into being the Commonwealth and
formed into being the Commonwealth and
formed into being the Commonwealth and then in 1973 we entered the European
then in 1973 we entered the European
then in 1973 we entered the European Economic Community the precursor to the
Economic Community the precursor to the
Economic Community the precursor to the EU by entering the economic the European
EU by entering the economic the European
EU by entering the economic the European Economic Community in 1973 one of the
Economic Community in 1973 one of the
Economic Community in 1973 one of the things that got displaced in our sense
things that got displaced in our sense
things that got displaced in our sense of ourselves at that time was the impact
of ourselves at that time was the impact
of ourselves at that time was the impact of decolonization decolonization over
of decolonization decolonization over
of decolonization decolonization over the late 20th century was turning
the late 20th century was turning
the late 20th century was turning Britain from an empire with global
Britain from an empire with global
Britain from an empire with global status into a small island but we never
status into a small island but we never
status into a small island but we never had to experience what it felt like to
had to experience what it felt like to
had to experience what it felt like to be a small island because we entered the
be a small island because we entered the
be a small island because we entered the EEC and by entering the EEC we went on
EEC and by entering the EEC we went on
EEC and by entering the EEC we went on to continue to have status on the world
to continue to have status on the world
to continue to have status on the world stage and so in a sense I would suggest
stage and so in a sense I would suggest
stage and so in a sense I would suggest that the vote for brexit is a vote that
that the vote for brexit is a vote that
that the vote for brexit is a vote that represents the delayed resentment at the
represents the delayed resentment at the
represents the delayed resentment at the loss of Empire and at the loss of
loss of Empire and at the loss of
loss of Empire and at the loss of privileges associated with Empire it’s a
privileges associated with Empire it’s a
privileges associated with Empire it’s a vote against the multicultural community
vote against the multicultural community
vote against the multicultural community that Britain had become and this is
that Britain had become and this is
that Britain had become and this is nowhere better evidence than the fact
nowhere better evidence than the fact
nowhere better evidence than the fact that walking down the street it hasn’t
that walking down the street it hasn’t
that walking down the street it hasn’t been uncommon in the months after breaks
been uncommon in the months after breaks
been uncommon in the months after breaks it for me as a darker British citizen to
it for me as a darker British citizen to
it for me as a darker British citizen to hear we voted to leave why haven’t you
hear we voted to leave why haven’t you
hear we voted to leave why haven’t you left yet and so in this way the vote for
left yet and so in this way the vote for
left yet and so in this way the vote for brexit was not just about the status of
brexit was not just about the status of
brexit was not just about the status of non UK EU citizens in Britain it wasn’t
non UK EU citizens in Britain it wasn’t
non UK EU citizens in Britain it wasn’t just about our relationship to the
just about our relationship to the
just about our relationship to the European Union it was also about the
European Union it was also about the
European Union it was also about the question of the legitimacy of belonging
question of the legitimacy of belonging
question of the legitimacy of belonging of those who look different to
of those who look different to
of those who look different to understand this we need to understand
understand this we need to understand
understand this we need to understand the history of British citizenship just
the history of British citizenship just
the history of British citizenship just as many people think of Britain being a
as many people think of Britain being a
as many people think of Britain being a nation and not an empire people often
nation and not an empire people often
nation and not an empire people often think that British citizenship is
think that British citizenship is
think that British citizenship is something that has existed for a very
something that has existed for a very
something that has existed for a very long time in fact British citizenship
long time in fact British citizenship
long time in fact British citizenship only came into being in 1948 with the
only came into being in 1948 with the
only came into being in 1948 with the British Nationality Act what this act
British Nationality Act what this act
British Nationality Act what this act dated four was two main forms of
dated four was two main forms of
dated four was two main forms of citizenship one was that you could be a
citizenship one was that you could be a
citizenship one was that you could be a citizen of the UK and its colonies note
citizen of the UK and its colonies note
citizen of the UK and its colonies note here that there’s no separate
here that there’s no separate
here that there’s no separate citizenship for being in the UK and a
citizenship for being in the UK and a
citizenship for being in the UK and a separate citizenship for being in the
separate citizenship for being in the
separate citizenship for being in the colonies it’s one common shared
colonies it’s one common shared
colonies it’s one common shared citizenship the other form of
citizenship the other form of
citizenship the other form of citizenship is Commonwealth citizenship
citizenship is Commonwealth citizenship
citizenship is Commonwealth citizenship and this is a form of citizenship that
and this is a form of citizenship that
and this is a form of citizenship that was given to anybody who lived in a
was given to anybody who lived in a
was given to anybody who lived in a country that had previously been
country that had previously been
country that had previously been colonized by Britain and was now in the
colonized by Britain and was now in the
colonized by Britain and was now in the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth so in 1948 Britain gave citizenship to
so in 1948 Britain gave citizenship to
so in 1948 Britain gave citizenship to in excess of 800 million people you
in excess of 800 million people you
in excess of 800 million people you might wonder why on earth would any
might wonder why on earth would any
might wonder why on earth would any government do that well remember that at
government do that well remember that at
government do that well remember that at the time the direction of movement was
the time the direction of movement was
the time the direction of movement was not from the rest of the Commonwealth to
not from the rest of the Commonwealth to
not from the rest of the Commonwealth to Britain Empire was established by the
Britain Empire was established by the
Britain Empire was established by the migration of Britons to the rest of the
migration of Britons to the rest of the
migration of Britons to the rest of the world and so migration had never seen
world and so migration had never seen
world and so migration had never seen been seen to be a problem up until the
been seen to be a problem up until the
been seen to be a problem up until the point that those citizens from the
point that those citizens from the
point that those citizens from the darker parts of Commonwealth that is
darker parts of Commonwealth that is
darker parts of Commonwealth that is India the Caribbean Pakistan and other
India the Caribbean Pakistan and other
India the Caribbean Pakistan and other places started to come to Britain then
places started to come to Britain then
places started to come to Britain then suddenly there was a moral panic about
suddenly there was a moral panic about
suddenly there was a moral panic about coloured immigration about the effects
coloured immigration about the effects
coloured immigration about the effects on jobs on education on housing the most
on jobs on education on housing the most
on jobs on education on housing the most iconic representation of this period of
iconic representation of this period of
iconic representation of this period of migration was the empire wind rush this
migration was the empire wind rush this
migration was the empire wind rush this was a ship that came from the Caribbean
was a ship that came from the Caribbean
was a ship that came from the Caribbean and docked in the Thames and 500 West
and docked in the Thames and 500 West
and docked in the Thames and 500 West Indians disembarked carrying British
Indians disembarked carrying British
Indians disembarked carrying British passports whilst this is presented as
passports whilst this is presented as
passports whilst this is presented as iconic of both coloured immigration and
iconic of both coloured immigration and
iconic of both coloured immigration and also of British multiculturalism I would
also of British multiculturalism I would
also of British multiculturalism I would suggest that this is incorrect for two
suggest that this is incorrect for two
suggest that this is incorrect for two reasons first the British Empire was
reasons first the British Empire was
reasons first the British Empire was constituted by a plethora of languages
constituted by a plethora of languages
constituted by a plethora of languages peoples and cultures the British Empire
peoples and cultures the British Empire
peoples and cultures the British Empire was already a multicultural entity so
was already a multicultural entity so
was already a multicultural entity so how could multiculturalism have come to
how could multiculturalism have come to
how could multiculturalism have come to Britain in 90
Britain in 90
Britain in 90 forty-eight when the very imperial forum
forty-eight when the very imperial forum
forty-eight when the very imperial forum was itself multicultural secondly the
was itself multicultural secondly the
was itself multicultural secondly the point about this being the beginnings of
point about this being the beginnings of
point about this being the beginnings of colored immigration well the five
colored immigration well the five
colored immigration well the five hundred West Indians who came came as
hundred West Indians who came came as
hundred West Indians who came came as British citizens they came carrying
British citizens they came carrying
British citizens they came carrying British passports with the rights to
British passports with the rights to
British passports with the rights to live work and settle in Britain at the
live work and settle in Britain at the
live work and settle in Britain at the same time as Empire Windrush and the
same time as Empire Windrush and the
same time as Empire Windrush and the forms of colored immigration that were
forms of colored immigration that were
forms of colored immigration that were going on and that were discussed there
going on and that were discussed there
going on and that were discussed there were other patterns of immigration this
were other patterns of immigration this
were other patterns of immigration this involved paler migrants and these
involved paler migrants and these
involved paler migrants and these migrations are very rarely discussed so
migrations are very rarely discussed so
migrations are very rarely discussed so in the five years after the end of the
in the five years after the end of the
in the five years after the end of the Second World War the British government
Second World War the British government
Second World War the British government established the European voluntary
established the European voluntary
established the European voluntary workers scheme in order to help rebuild
workers scheme in order to help rebuild
workers scheme in order to help rebuild Britain after the devastation wrought by
Britain after the devastation wrought by
Britain after the devastation wrought by that war this brought a hundred thousand
that war this brought a hundred thousand
that war this brought a hundred thousand Eastern Europeans to come and live and
Eastern Europeans to come and live and
Eastern Europeans to come and live and work in Britain people came from Eastern
work in Britain people came from Eastern
work in Britain people came from Eastern Europe and from the labor camps in Italy
Europe and from the labor camps in Italy
Europe and from the labor camps in Italy in Germany at the same time a hundred
in Germany at the same time a hundred
in Germany at the same time a hundred and twenty eight thousand polish
and twenty eight thousand polish
and twenty eight thousand polish migrants were given the right to live
migrants were given the right to live
migrants were given the right to live and settle in Britain as a consequence
and settle in Britain as a consequence
and settle in Britain as a consequence of their involvement in the Polish free
of their involvement in the Polish free
of their involvement in the Polish free army a hundred thousand i renamed to
army a hundred thousand i renamed to
army a hundred thousand i renamed to britain annually in this period to live
britain annually in this period to live
britain annually in this period to live and work and settle in britain around
and work and settle in britain around
and work and settle in britain around the same sort of time just to put things
the same sort of time just to put things
the same sort of time just to put things into perspective what we’re talking
into perspective what we’re talking
into perspective what we’re talking about in terms of caribbean migration is
about in terms of caribbean migration is
about in terms of caribbean migration is seventeen thousand people by the time of
seventeen thousand people by the time of
seventeen thousand people by the time of the 1961 census five percent of the
the 1961 census five percent of the
the 1961 census five percent of the total population of britain was foreign
total population of britain was foreign
total population of britain was foreign born yet only one-tenth of it was
born yet only one-tenth of it was
born yet only one-tenth of it was constituted by darker citizens the other
constituted by darker citizens the other
constituted by darker citizens the other nine-tenths was made up of paler
nine-tenths was made up of paler
nine-tenths was made up of paler migrants and yet there is not one line
migrants and yet there is not one line
migrants and yet there is not one line of debate in Parliament about the paler
of debate in Parliament about the paler
of debate in Parliament about the paler migrants the only discussion is on the
migrants the only discussion is on the
migrants the only discussion is on the arrival of the darker citizens who came
arrival of the darker citizens who came
arrival of the darker citizens who came with the rights
with the rights
with the rights live and work in Britain the moral panic
live and work in Britain the moral panic
live and work in Britain the moral panic became so intense during the period of
became so intense during the period of
became so intense during the period of the 60s that the government ended up
the 60s that the government ended up
the 60s that the government ended up passing the Commonwealth immigration
passing the Commonwealth immigration
passing the Commonwealth immigration Acts of 60 to 68 and 71 each one of
Acts of 60 to 68 and 71 each one of
Acts of 60 to 68 and 71 each one of these acts progressively took rights
these acts progressively took rights
these acts progressively took rights away from darker citizens to the extent
away from darker citizens to the extent
away from darker citizens to the extent that by the end it was near impossible
that by the end it was near impossible
that by the end it was near impossible for them to come and exercise their
for them to come and exercise their
for them to come and exercise their rights to come and live and work in
rights to come and live and work in
rights to come and live and work in Britain and yet there was no comment on
Britain and yet there was no comment on
Britain and yet there was no comment on the rights of paler migrants and
the rights of paler migrants and
the rights of paler migrants and citizens to come they continued to be
citizens to come they continued to be
citizens to come they continued to be able to come so it’s this racialization
able to come so it’s this racialization
able to come so it’s this racialization of citizenship that I suggest is so
of citizenship that I suggest is so
of citizenship that I suggest is so significant and that requires unpacking
significant and that requires unpacking
significant and that requires unpacking the children and grandchildren of many
the children and grandchildren of many
the children and grandchildren of many of the paler migrants who came
of the paler migrants who came
of the paler migrants who came eventually came to be understood as
eventually came to be understood as
eventually came to be understood as British in a way that most of the
British in a way that most of the
British in a way that most of the descendants of Empire Windrush and those
descendants of Empire Windrush and those
descendants of Empire Windrush and those who came from the darker Commonwealth
who came from the darker Commonwealth
who came from the darker Commonwealth countries never were indeed not far from
countries never were indeed not far from
countries never were indeed not far from here in 1968 Enoch Powell in his
here in 1968 Enoch Powell in his
here in 1968 Enoch Powell in his infamous rivers of blood speech talked
infamous rivers of blood speech talked
infamous rivers of blood speech talked about the dangers of the immigrant
about the dangers of the immigrant
about the dangers of the immigrant descended and it’s clear that he wasn’t
descended and it’s clear that he wasn’t
descended and it’s clear that he wasn’t talking about the children of the paler
talking about the children of the paler
talking about the children of the paler migrants rather he was talking about the
migrants rather he was talking about the
migrants rather he was talking about the children of the darker citizens and yet
children of the darker citizens and yet
children of the darker citizens and yet it’s precisely their migrant history
it’s precisely their migrant history
it’s precisely their migrant history that enables many of my white seemingly
that enables many of my white seemingly
that enables many of my white seemingly English friends to now apply for EU
English friends to now apply for EU
English friends to now apply for EU passports from Ireland Poland Germany
passports from Ireland Poland Germany
passports from Ireland Poland Germany Sweden France and maintain their access
Sweden France and maintain their access
Sweden France and maintain their access to the European Union whereas I with my
to the European Union whereas I with my
to the European Union whereas I with my British passport and my British parents
British passport and my British parents
British passport and my British parents and my British grandparents continue to
and my British grandparents continue to
and my British grandparents continue to be called the second generation
be called the second generation
be called the second generation immigrant even by people who work on
immigrant even by people who work on
immigrant even by people who work on these issues and should know better so
these issues and should know better so
these issues and should know better so where do we go from here the theme of
where do we go from here the theme of
where do we go from here the theme of today is perspectives and I’d like us to
today is perspectives and I’d like us to
today is perspectives and I’d like us to think about what constitutes an adequate
think about what constitutes an adequate
think about what constitutes an adequate perspective a perspective on the basis
perspective a perspective on the basis
perspective a perspective on the basis of which we could develop a healthy
of which we could develop a healthy
of which we could develop a healthy politics
politics
politics and policies that work for the greatest
and policies that work for the greatest
and policies that work for the greatest number one question that we might ask is
number one question that we might ask is
number one question that we might ask is does the perspective that’s being put
does the perspective that’s being put
does the perspective that’s being put forward does it properly account for our
forward does it properly account for our
forward does it properly account for our history particularly our shared
history particularly our shared
history particularly our shared histories Britain has never been a
histories Britain has never been a
histories Britain has never been a nation it’s always been an empire
nation it’s always been an empire
nation it’s always been an empire policies are established on the basis of
policies are established on the basis of
policies are established on the basis of your historical belonging to nation not
your historical belonging to nation not
your historical belonging to nation not your historical belonging to Empire this
your historical belonging to Empire this
your historical belonging to Empire this results in the arbitrary exclusion of
results in the arbitrary exclusion of
results in the arbitrary exclusion of peoples and the present but as we’ve
peoples and the present but as we’ve
peoples and the present but as we’ve seen Britain has constructed its sense
seen Britain has constructed its sense
seen Britain has constructed its sense of itself on the basis of a series of
of itself on the basis of a series of
of itself on the basis of a series of exclusions by turning some citizens into
exclusions by turning some citizens into
exclusions by turning some citizens into migrants it did this in the 1960s with
migrants it did this in the 1960s with
migrants it did this in the 1960s with the Commonwealth Immigration Act and
the Commonwealth Immigration Act and
the Commonwealth Immigration Act and it’s doing it in the present with non UK
it’s doing it in the present with non UK
it’s doing it in the present with non UK EU citizens we’re at a critical juncture
EU citizens we’re at a critical juncture
EU citizens we’re at a critical juncture where our political community is being
where our political community is being
where our political community is being redefined it’s up to us to endeavour
redefined it’s up to us to endeavour
redefined it’s up to us to endeavour that it gets redefined in an open
that it gets redefined in an open
that it gets redefined in an open inclusive and generous manner then it
inclusive and generous manner then it
inclusive and generous manner then it gets redefined in a way that puts the
gets redefined in a way that puts the
gets redefined in a way that puts the connections both historical and
connections both historical and
connections both historical and contemporary and uses them as the
contemporary and uses them as the
contemporary and uses them as the bedrock for how we go on to develop our
bedrock for how we go on to develop our
bedrock for how we go on to develop our political community in the future thank
political community in the future thank
political community in the future thank you
you
you [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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