hello I’m normally pretty good with faces but I have to say that I’m
faces but I have to say that I’m
faces but I have to say that I’m struggling to recognize some of you
struggling to recognize some of you
struggling to recognize some of you because you’re not wearing your pajamas
because you’re not wearing your pajamas
because you’re not wearing your pajamas because I’ve seen you on a Sunday
because I’ve seen you on a Sunday
because I’ve seen you on a Sunday morning when you’re nipping out to get
morning when you’re nipping out to get
morning when you’re nipping out to get your paper rockin that oversized coat
your paper rockin that oversized coat
your paper rockin that oversized coat with the pajamas slipper combination
with the pajamas slipper combination
with the pajamas slipper combination underneath and you thought we never
underneath and you thought we never
underneath and you thought we never noticed because I was born and brought
noticed because I was born and brought
noticed because I was born and brought up in a world where I know a lot about
up in a world where I know a lot about
up in a world where I know a lot about you whether you’re gay you’re straight
you whether you’re gay you’re straight
you whether you’re gay you’re straight you vote Tory or labour you’ve got
you vote Tory or labour you’ve got
you vote Tory or labour you’ve got financial problems or you’re a
financial problems or you’re a
financial problems or you’re a multi-millionaire because from the age
multi-millionaire because from the age
multi-millionaire because from the age of about four I was given a front row
of about four I was given a front row
of about four I was given a front row seat a very privileged position to
seat a very privileged position to
seat a very privileged position to understanding everything that was going
understanding everything that was going
understanding everything that was going on around me and it’s not because my
on around me and it’s not because my
on around me and it’s not because my parents were part the Secret Service or
parents were part the Secret Service or
parents were part the Secret Service or that they were politicians but it’s
that they were politicians but it’s
that they were politicians but it’s because I am the daughter of shopkeepers
because I am the daughter of shopkeepers
because I am the daughter of shopkeepers and I grew up my childhood spent in the
and I grew up my childhood spent in the
and I grew up my childhood spent in the shop I am a British Indian and my
shop I am a British Indian and my
shop I am a British Indian and my parents were Asian shopkeepers so we
parents were Asian shopkeepers so we
parents were Asian shopkeepers so we should probably get a few stereotypes
should probably get a few stereotypes
should probably get a few stereotypes out the way right now
out the way right now
out the way right now yes our shop was on the corner
yes our shop was on the corner
yes our shop was on the corner yes we were open seven days a week open
yes we were open seven days a week open
yes we were open seven days a week open all hours yes we had multiple extensions
all hours yes we had multiple extensions
all hours yes we had multiple extensions on our home yes it was a family affair
on our home yes it was a family affair
on our home yes it was a family affair we all worked in the shop yes me my
we all worked in the shop yes me my
we all worked in the shop yes me my sisters were all University educated
sisters were all University educated
sisters were all University educated education is very important and yet some
education is very important and yet some
education is very important and yet some people probably refer to our shop is the
people probably refer to our shop is the
people probably refer to our shop is the Paki shop on the corner because I grew
Paki shop on the corner because I grew
Paki shop on the corner because I grew up in 1980s Britain when immigration had
up in 1980s Britain when immigration had
up in 1980s Britain when immigration had truly arrived in this country
truly arrived in this country
truly arrived in this country and I remember when my dad opened up the
and I remember when my dad opened up the
and I remember when my dad opened up the first corner shop he got a piece of
first corner shop he got a piece of
first corner shop he got a piece of advice from one of the customers who
advice from one of the customers who
advice from one of the customers who said do you know what I’m across the
said do you know what I’m across the
said do you know what I’m across the road is not too keen on your kind but if
road is not too keen on your kind but if
road is not too keen on your kind but if you inter cricket and you can chat to
you inter cricket and you can chat to
you inter cricket and you can chat to him about it you’ll be all right
him about it you’ll be all right
him about it you’ll be all right well bonus because Dad was Indian loves
well bonus because Dad was Indian loves
well bonus because Dad was Indian loves cricket of course he does we were sorted
cricket of course he does we were sorted
cricket of course he does we were sorted but you see when you grow up in that
but you see when you grow up in that
but you see when you grow up in that world you get to understand a lot about
world you get to understand a lot about
world you get to understand a lot about how people think and crucially what’s
how people think and crucially what’s
how people think and crucially what’s working and not working in society so I
working and not working in society so I
working and not working in society so I just want to take it back a little bit
just want to take it back a little bit
just want to take it back a little bit to 1950s Britain and the traditional
to 1950s Britain and the traditional
to 1950s Britain and the traditional corner shop hello mr. Jackson good
corner shop hello mr. Jackson good
corner shop hello mr. Jackson good morning good morning Betty what can I
morning good morning Betty what can I
morning good morning Betty what can I get you today and within 10 years it
get you today and within 10 years it
get you today and within 10 years it became this what the hell happened to
became this what the hell happened to
became this what the hell happened to mr. Jackson mr. Jackson has turned into
mr. Jackson mr. Jackson has turned into
mr. Jackson mr. Jackson has turned into mr. Patel and his family can you see in
mr. Patel and his family can you see in
mr. Patel and his family can you see in the 1960s 75,000 immigrants from
the 1960s 75,000 immigrants from
the 1960s 75,000 immigrants from Commonwealth countries came into the UK
Commonwealth countries came into the UK
Commonwealth countries came into the UK every single year and my mom and dad
every single year and my mom and dad
every single year and my mom and dad were just two of them and they were
were just two of them and they were
were just two of them and they were invited here courtesy of Her Majesty’s
invited here courtesy of Her Majesty’s
invited here courtesy of Her Majesty’s Government who were crying out for
Government who were crying out for
Government who were crying out for immigrants to fill a huge gap in the
immigrants to fill a huge gap in the
immigrants to fill a huge gap in the labour market they needed foreign
labour market they needed foreign
labour market they needed foreign workers to fill the factory jobs and the
workers to fill the factory jobs and the
workers to fill the factory jobs and the corner shop well it offered a bit of a
corner shop well it offered a bit of a
corner shop well it offered a bit of a lifeline to immigrants like my mum and
lifeline to immigrants like my mum and
lifeline to immigrants like my mum and dad in the same way that it does today
dad in the same way that it does today
dad in the same way that it does today for Polish shopkeepers or the Vietnamese
for Polish shopkeepers or the Vietnamese
for Polish shopkeepers or the Vietnamese family that are opening up an L bar down
family that are opening up an L bar down
family that are opening up an L bar down your road because when there is job
your road because when there is job
your road because when there is job discrimination or lack of opportunity
discrimination or lack of opportunity
discrimination or lack of opportunity just work for yourself why not take on a
just work for yourself why not take on a
just work for yourself why not take on a shop you don’t need to prove much other
shop you don’t need to prove much other
shop you don’t need to prove much other than your willingness
than your willingness
than your willingness to work hard and you see the great
to work hard and you see the great
to work hard and you see the great architectural minds of post-war Britain
architectural minds of post-war Britain
architectural minds of post-war Britain they created these rows and rows of
they created these rows and rows of
they created these rows and rows of terraced houses and they put a shop on
terraced houses and they put a shop on
terraced houses and they put a shop on every single corner up and down the
every single corner up and down the
every single corner up and down the country so when the Asians came in and
country so when the Asians came in and
country so when the Asians came in and took it on boom that was it forced
took it on boom that was it forced
took it on boom that was it forced integration whether you liked it or not
integration whether you liked it or not
integration whether you liked it or not and when Mum and Dad and thousands of
and when Mum and Dad and thousands of
and when Mum and Dad and thousands of others like them decided called Britain
others like them decided called Britain
others like them decided called Britain home in the 1960s well it was
home in the 1960s well it was
home in the 1960s well it was predominantly a very white landscape
predominantly a very white landscape
predominantly a very white landscape there was no carry mine in Manchester or
there was no carry mine in Manchester or
there was no carry mine in Manchester or Brick Lane like we know it today there
Brick Lane like we know it today there
Brick Lane like we know it today there was no Little India of Southall they
was no Little India of Southall they
was no Little India of Southall they looked different
looked different
looked different they spoke differently they wore
they spoke differently they wore
they spoke differently they wore different clothes they ate different
different clothes they ate different
different clothes they ate different foods onion bhajis green chillies
foods onion bhajis green chillies
foods onion bhajis green chillies chicken vindaloo actually not vindaloo
chicken vindaloo actually not vindaloo
chicken vindaloo actually not vindaloo that was created for the British palate
that was created for the British palate
that was created for the British palate not an authentic Indian dish but that
not an authentic Indian dish but that
not an authentic Indian dish but that invite that call for foreign workers
invite that call for foreign workers
invite that call for foreign workers proved to be very popular indeed and the
proved to be very popular indeed and the
proved to be very popular indeed and the numbers started coming in and as the
numbers started coming in and as the
numbers started coming in and as the numbers started to rise well the
numbers started to rise well the
numbers started to rise well the authorities got very uncomfortable about
authorities got very uncomfortable about
authorities got very uncomfortable about it and fear had set in about immigration
it and fear had set in about immigration
it and fear had set in about immigration letter City Council felt the fear they
letter City Council felt the fear they
letter City Council felt the fear they felt the fear so much they took out this
felt the fear so much they took out this
felt the fear so much they took out this ad one page ad in the Ugandan press in
ad one page ad in the Ugandan press in
ad one page ad in the Ugandan press in 1972 warning the Asians not to come to
1972 warning the Asians not to come to
1972 warning the Asians not to come to Lester because Lester was full and at
Lester because Lester was full and at
Lester because Lester was full and at the time the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin
the time the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin
the time the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin was getting rid of all the Asians in the
was getting rid of all the Asians in the
was getting rid of all the Asians in the country and yeah thousands of them did
country and yeah thousands of them did
country and yeah thousands of them did come to Britain thousands of them 20,000
come to Britain thousands of them 20,000
come to Britain thousands of them 20,000 in fact did go to Leicester but by no
in fact did go to Leicester but by no
in fact did go to Leicester but by no means was Leicester full up and this is
means was Leicester full up and this is
means was Leicester full up and this is what I call Britain’s love-hate
what I call Britain’s love-hate
what I call Britain’s love-hate relationship with immigration because
relationship with immigration because
relationship with immigration because you see once upon a time we were all
you see once upon a time we were all
you see once upon a time we were all very much in love 1983 labour says he’s
very much in love 1983 labour says he’s
very much in love 1983 labour says he’s black
black
black the Tories say he’s British folk
the Tories say he’s British folk
the Tories say he’s British folk conservative party political campaign
conservative party political campaign
conservative party political campaign for the Conservative Party and there’s a
for the Conservative Party and there’s a
for the Conservative Party and there’s a couple of sentences in this ad which
couple of sentences in this ad which
couple of sentences in this ad which says the Conservatives don’t see blacks
says the Conservatives don’t see blacks
says the Conservatives don’t see blacks they don’t see whites they see everyone
they don’t see whites they see everyone
they don’t see whites they see everyone as equals
as equals
as equals I mean how lovely how rosy all very much
I mean how lovely how rosy all very much
I mean how lovely how rosy all very much in love with the idea of immigration
in love with the idea of immigration
in love with the idea of immigration maybe not maybe not if we just go back
maybe not maybe not if we just go back
maybe not maybe not if we just go back two decades same political party
two decades same political party
two decades same political party different ad campaign this was a Tory
different ad campaign this was a Tory
different ad campaign this was a Tory leaflet that was distributed in Lambeth
leaflet that was distributed in Lambeth
leaflet that was distributed in Lambeth in South London if you desire a colored
in South London if you desire a colored
in South London if you desire a colored for your neighbor vote Labour if you are
for your neighbor vote Labour if you are
for your neighbor vote Labour if you are already burdened with one vote Tory yeah
already burdened with one vote Tory yeah
already burdened with one vote Tory yeah it’s fair to say the relationship was
it’s fair to say the relationship was
it’s fair to say the relationship was probably a little bit sour at this point
probably a little bit sour at this point
probably a little bit sour at this point not a lot of love going on but see the
not a lot of love going on but see the
not a lot of love going on but see the thing is politicians they’ve always had
thing is politicians they’ve always had
thing is politicians they’ve always had this dodgy affair with immigrations it’s
this dodgy affair with immigrations it’s
this dodgy affair with immigrations it’s a bit like the long engagement where you
a bit like the long engagement where you
a bit like the long engagement where you know you goes on and on and on but
know you goes on and on and on but
know you goes on and on and on but nobody’s willing to set a wedding date
nobody’s willing to set a wedding date
nobody’s willing to set a wedding date and to actually commit but they got it
and to actually commit but they got it
and to actually commit but they got it they understood how the image of the
they understood how the image of the
they understood how the image of the immigrant the topic about immigration
immigrant the topic about immigration
immigrant the topic about immigration was a very powerful one indeed and that
was a very powerful one indeed and that
was a very powerful one indeed and that race card it’s been dealt many many
race card it’s been dealt many many
race card it’s been dealt many many times over and over again Margaret
times over and over again Margaret
times over and over again Margaret Thatcher and I we’ve got a lot in common
Thatcher and I we’ve got a lot in common
Thatcher and I we’ve got a lot in common we do we are both the daughters of
we do we are both the daughters of
we do we are both the daughters of shopkeepers she helped out as a child
shopkeepers she helped out as a child
shopkeepers she helped out as a child and her father’s green grocer in
and her father’s green grocer in
and her father’s green grocer in Grantham stacking the fruit and veg I
Grantham stacking the fruit and veg I
Grantham stacking the fruit and veg I did the pedigree chums and aloo rolls in
did the pedigree chums and aloo rolls in
did the pedigree chums and aloo rolls in our shopping wedding and she got it she
our shopping wedding and she got it she
our shopping wedding and she got it she understood how the image of the Asian
understood how the image of the Asian
understood how the image of the Asian shopkeeper could be used very very
shopkeeper could be used very very
shopkeeper could be used very very effectively to promote to eval you know
effectively to promote to eval you know
effectively to promote to eval you know that work ethic the hard work those
that work ethic the hard work those
that work ethic the hard work those entrepreneurial skills but the game that
entrepreneurial skills but the game that
entrepreneurial skills but the game that game was a very dangerous one to play
game was a very dangerous one to play
game was a very dangerous one to play because in the 1980s Britain was going
because in the 1980s Britain was going
because in the 1980s Britain was going through a very deep recession and while
through a very deep recession and while
through a very deep recession and while some politicians may have loved the idea
some politicians may have loved the idea
some politicians may have loved the idea of the Asian shopkeeper the rest of the
of the Asian shopkeeper the rest of the
of the Asian shopkeeper the rest of the country didn’t quite agree there’s
country didn’t quite agree there’s
country didn’t quite agree there’s nothing worse than being told about the
nothing worse than being told about the
nothing worse than being told about the foreigners doing well when you’re
foreigners doing well when you’re
foreigners doing well when you’re struggling attacks against Asian
struggling attacks against Asian
struggling attacks against Asian shopkeepers doubled in three years in
shopkeepers doubled in three years in
shopkeepers doubled in three years in the early part the 1980s and racial
the early part the 1980s and racial
the early part the 1980s and racial tensions and social divisions they were
tensions and social divisions they were
tensions and social divisions they were at
at
at all time high and they spilled over into
all time high and they spilled over into
all time high and they spilled over into the now-infamous race riots of the 1980s
the now-infamous race riots of the 1980s
the now-infamous race riots of the 1980s many of you here in London might
many of you here in London might
many of you here in London might remember them as the Brixton riots
remember them as the Brixton riots
remember them as the Brixton riots Britain was at breaking point
Britain was at breaking point
Britain was at breaking point the politicians told us that the media
the politicians told us that the media
the politicians told us that the media told us that the customers coming into
told us that the customers coming into
told us that the customers coming into our shop they talked about it do you
our shop they talked about it do you
our shop they talked about it do you know what is is these bloody immigrants
know what is is these bloody immigrants
know what is is these bloody immigrants they’re coming here and they’re taking
they’re coming here and they’re taking
they’re coming here and they’re taking our jobs and as a child I’d sit on the
our jobs and as a child I’d sit on the
our jobs and as a child I’d sit on the shop counter stuffing my face full of
shop counter stuffing my face full of
shop counter stuffing my face full of sweets listening to these kind of
sweets listening to these kind of
sweets listening to these kind of conversations and I have to say it was a
conversations and I have to say it was a
conversations and I have to say it was a brilliant training ground for my job my
brilliant training ground for my job my
brilliant training ground for my job my career now as a journalist for the BBC
career now as a journalist for the BBC
career now as a journalist for the BBC and last year I was given a task of
and last year I was given a task of
and last year I was given a task of covering the EU referendum result in
covering the EU referendum result in
covering the EU referendum result in June and I went up to Newcastle which
June and I went up to Newcastle which
June and I went up to Newcastle which turned out to be one of the first places
turned out to be one of the first places
turned out to be one of the first places to declare a result about whether or not
to declare a result about whether or not
to declare a result about whether or not they wanted to leave or remain as part
they wanted to leave or remain as part
they wanted to leave or remain as part of the European Union and you know I
of the European Union and you know I
of the European Union and you know I followed the debate very closely indeed
followed the debate very closely indeed
followed the debate very closely indeed and I have to say that it was very clear
and I have to say that it was very clear
and I have to say that it was very clear how quickly it was becoming about
how quickly it was becoming about
how quickly it was becoming about immigration British jobs for British
immigration British jobs for British
immigration British jobs for British people the immigrant putting a strain on
people the immigrant putting a strain on
people the immigrant putting a strain on the NHS and here we were again breaking
the NHS and here we were again breaking
the NHS and here we were again breaking point UK Independence Party at campaign
point UK Independence Party at campaign
point UK Independence Party at campaign 2016 you Kip and you know I went back to
2016 you Kip and you know I went back to
2016 you Kip and you know I went back to the newsroom I heard all these
the newsroom I heard all these
the newsroom I heard all these conversations and you see all the copy
conversations and you see all the copy
conversations and you see all the copy coming in and you’d write the headlines
coming in and you’d write the headlines
coming in and you’d write the headlines and I remember seeing there getting
and I remember seeing there getting
and I remember seeing there getting flashbacks to being a six year old child
flashbacks to being a six year old child
flashbacks to being a six year old child listening to what was said at that time
listening to what was said at that time
listening to what was said at that time on the shop floor or perhaps it was my
on the shop floor or perhaps it was my
on the shop floor or perhaps it was my dad getting flashbacks to what was said
dad getting flashbacks to what was said
dad getting flashbacks to what was said about him when he arrived on a plane
about him when he arrived on a plane
about him when he arrived on a plane from Delhi to Heathrow Airport on 1964 I
from Delhi to Heathrow Airport on 1964 I
from Delhi to Heathrow Airport on 1964 I mean was this relationship ever really
mean was this relationship ever really
mean was this relationship ever really about true love
about true love
about true love well apparently yes when war Britannia
well apparently yes when war Britannia
well apparently yes when war Britannia needed immigration it was crying out for
needed immigration it was crying out for
needed immigration it was crying out for the farm workers to do the jobs here
the farm workers to do the jobs here
the farm workers to do the jobs here apparently yes when Margaret Thatcher
apparently yes when Margaret Thatcher
apparently yes when Margaret Thatcher hailed the Asian shopkeeper as a
hailed the Asian shopkeeper as a
hailed the Asian shopkeeper as a custodian of Tory values apparently yes
custodian of Tory values apparently yes
custodian of Tory values apparently yes when immigration became the political
when immigration became the political
when immigration became the political weapon of choice during the EU
weapon of choice during the EU
weapon of choice during the EU referendum and a
referendum and a
referendum and a yes when you need your emergency bag of
yes when you need your emergency bag of
yes when you need your emergency bag of sugar and you nip down the road to the
sugar and you nip down the road to the
sugar and you nip down the road to the corner shop that’s open all hours to be
corner shop that’s open all hours to be
corner shop that’s open all hours to be served by the Afghan shopkeeper so next
served by the Afghan shopkeeper so next
served by the Afghan shopkeeper so next time you walk into a corner shop that
time you walk into a corner shop that
time you walk into a corner shop that resembles my childhood home that’s
resembles my childhood home that’s
resembles my childhood home that’s dotted up and down the country just take
dotted up and down the country just take
dotted up and down the country just take a few minutes before you pay for your
a few minutes before you pay for your
a few minutes before you pay for your box of cigarettes or your newspaper
box of cigarettes or your newspaper
box of cigarettes or your newspaper because you might be standing in the
because you might be standing in the
because you might be standing in the queue with a Polish builder about to be
queue with a Polish builder about to be
queue with a Polish builder about to be served by a Sri Lankan shopkeeper and a
served by a Sri Lankan shopkeeper and a
served by a Sri Lankan shopkeeper and a bit of banter breaks out and I can
bit of banter breaks out and I can
bit of banter breaks out and I can guarantee you that that conversation
guarantee you that that conversation
guarantee you that that conversation will give Prime Minister’s Questions a
will give Prime Minister’s Questions a
will give Prime Minister’s Questions a run for its money any time of the day
run for its money any time of the day
run for its money any time of the day because as long as you need a pint of
because as long as you need a pint of
because as long as you need a pint of milk the corner shop and immigration is
milk the corner shop and immigration is
milk the corner shop and immigration is here to stay in this country bricks it
here to stay in this country bricks it
here to stay in this country bricks it or no breaks it on by the way to the MP
or no breaks it on by the way to the MP
or no breaks it on by the way to the MP that used to buy porn mags from our shop
that used to buy porn mags from our shop
that used to buy porn mags from our shop at the age of 19 hello mum dad say hi
at the age of 19 hello mum dad say hi
at the age of 19 hello mum dad say hi thank you
”
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