Home Secretary claims multiculturalism has "failed" in Britain

Braverman accuses communities of living "parallel lives"

SUELLA Braverman, the Home Secretary, has reiterated her belief that multiculturalism has "failed" in Britain, stating that some migrants are "living parallel lives". Speaking at the Tory Conference in Manchester, Braverman criticized "communities" in "many towns and cities around the UK" for not learning English and refusing to adopt British values. She pledged to be "fearless in calling out" migrants who do not assimilate.

Highlighting the impact of integration

Supporting her stance, Braverman acknowledged that there are areas in the country where integration has been successful, leading to a vibrant multi-ethnic society. However, she emphasized that there are also towns and cities where communities live separately and fail to embrace British culture and values.

Braverman told Sky News: "They are coming from abroad, they are not learning the language, they are not embracing British values, and they are not taking part in British life. That needs to be identified, we need to be fearless in calling that out and that’s my job."

The concept of "parallel lives"

The idea of "parallel lives" was first introduced to government discourse in the early 2000s by a Home Office report by Ted Cantle. The report highlighted that separate educational arrangements, community organizations, employment, places of worship, language, and social networks contribute to the existence of parallel lives within certain communities. This lack of overlap and meaningful interchange was seen as problematic for societal cohesion.

Growing concern over migration

A group of right-wing Tory MPs also raised concerns about high levels of migration during the conference. Tory MP Tom Hunt stated that it is not xenophobic to want to live in a town center that feels familiar, rather than like a foreign country.

Braverman's plans for tougher immigration policies

In her keynote conference speech, Braverman is expected to outline further measures to address high immigration levels in the UK. These may include a lifetime ban on sex offenders changing their name and gender, as well as a new law that would prevent anyone convicted of a sex-related crime from changing their identity.

The Home Secretary's uncompromising stance on immigration is likely to generate further debate and discussion on the topic.