News

Review: Can We Talk About This?

Review: Can We Talk About This? Date: 15 March 2012

‘Physical theatre’ group DV8’s latest production Can We Talk About This? is currently being performed at London’s National Theatre. Sunder Katwala applauds its corporeal flare but finds a lack of serious engagement with its subject matter of multiculturalism.

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“Plastic Brits” – and the Mail’s struggle to decide who isn’t British

“Plastic Brits” – and the Mail’s struggle to decide who isn’t British Date: 13 March 2012

The Daily Mail cannot seem to agree on what constitutes being British when it comes to sport.

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“Cuts to English courses could impact integration”

“Cuts to English courses could impact integration” Date: 13 March 2012

Long-time teacher of English to new arrivals in this country Jo Thorp finds the rewards are great for both students and society, but following funding cuts, there are massive waiting lists for most courses.

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Who are you calling a “Plastic” Brit?

Who are you calling a “Plastic” Brit? Date: 9 March 2012

The Daily Mail is campaigning against Plastic Brits, but the ugly term, being used to describe people who the newspaper thinks shouldn’t represent Britain, misrepresents the nation’s sporting history.

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Review: Migrations: Journeys into British art

Review: Migrations: Journeys into British art Date: 6 March 2012

The Tate’s new Migrations exhibition doesn’t communicate the complex experiences of migration, but does have a varied display of art, says Georgia Hussey.

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Being British

Being British Date: 6 March 2012

There’s a lot of mixed feelings when it comes to British identity. Almost everyone I know has a separate ethnic identity which means we often don’t think about what it is to be British, or it can mean that we tend to appreciate it less.

I went to Ethiopia in 2010 and personally didn’t enjoy myself. I was so used to being wrapped up in this blanket of multiculturalism that I didn’t realise being in a whole city full of people who looked similar to me would feel so unsettling. However what was even more surprising was that people were judgemental when I spoke in English and some even laughed. Immediately I was defensive of being British, which was unusual as I was used to complaining daily about almost everything in Britain. At the end of the trip I was glad my parents decided to raise me in London. There are a lot of things we can be grateful for: the underground or the education system, for example. There aren’t many people in the world who can say they can get miles around a city in less than an hour.

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Yorkshire, British or English? Answering the identity question

Yorkshire, British or English? Answering the identity question Date: 6 March 2012

British Future went to York last week to join the cast of the play ‘Bed’ in a debate about British identity. Before the debate, we asked the cast members about their identity – British, Yorkshire or otherwise – as part of our British Histories series.

From Barbara Miller’s fond memories of chasing swarms of locusts from her garden in Africa to the cast’s unanimous love of Yorkshire, the stories tell strong but varied picture of British identity.

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How could the Conservatives reach out to non-white Britons?

How could the Conservatives reach out to non-white Britons? Date: 3 March 2012

The Conservatives, according to an article in The Economist, are much less likely to win non-white votes than socio-economic indicators would predict. What’s going on – and how could the party reverse the pattern, asks Sunder Katwala.

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In Bed with British Future

In Bed with British Future Date: 3 March 2012

British Future went to York this week to to join the cast of the play Bed in a passionate debate about British identity.

The debate, held on the set of Bed in the York Theatre Royal, saw York University lecturer Mike Savage, Charles Hutchinson of the York Press and the director of Bed Cecily Boys discuss Scotland, the British Empire and Yorkshire pride.

Watch our video to hear some of what they said.

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Publications

British Future reports examine public attitudes and make recommendations for change on topics ranging from future immigration and integration policy to how communications can help combat prejudice."

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Media

See British Future's recent media coverage, with links to articles and clips."

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