Mainly ignorance i suspect.

I don't believe Norwich is any more (and, more likely less) racist than any other City. Historically, Norwich has often had periods of a large immigrant population and, in more recent years, the UEA and Hospital have helped to bring a wide range of minority ethnic people, which, i believe, has led to more tolerance and understanding among the white community.

There is, undoubtably, a problem in the Market towns and rural villages. Where the view is often held that immigrant workers are taking the 'locals 'jobs'. Not just in their own rural areas, but all over the country. I've had this dicussion with people before and explained that the majority of Immigrant workers work longer hours and pay more tax than the average British born worker. Not that that helps as i'll often have the same conversation the next week with the same person. Just my opinion of course.

There was an interesting program onC4 last night. It said that over the last five years nearly half of new Nursing recruits were immigrants, and in the next 10 years 180,000 Nurses were due to retire. If the NHS wasn't able to recruit immigrant workers during this period it would 'grind to a halt'.

Posted By: Small, Oct 2, 13:29:35