ABSTRACT
Ethnic groups are interest groups, and their legitimate concerns in matters of social policy can and will clash. Ethnic differences are concerned, there are the real and difficult face-to-face problems of personal understanding and interest despite differences in language, culture and social outlook. This chapter presents the historical and social context of current government and party policies with respect to minorities in Britain. The difficulties in face-to-face relationships, the skills in offering that kind of social event and environment in which local people of different ethnic affiliations can participate in political activities, have yet to be confronted by many local Labour parties in multiracial constituencies. More importantly, it will begin the major task of rescuing the party from what can be in many ‘immigrant areas’ a kind of ethnic insularity on the part of the local Party. Law enforcement has been a particularly tense and often unsatisfactory arena for West Indians, Asians, Irish and Jewish immigrants and their families.
