UK continues to struggle with integration

Another theme of the report is the problems caused by newly-arrived migrants, in particular their lack of English language skills, vital for assimilation into society.

Recommendations for increased funding for English courses have nearly always been made and this report is no exception, yet it seems this is still not a government priority with the current government having cut funding for Englishclasses for migrants.

In a time of austerity this simply seems like a too easy and tempting cut for any government to make –– saving money by cutting a service most citizens can’t benefit from.

Yet nobody disputes the central role learning the national language plays in helping new migrants integrate, but sadly nobody is willing to pay for it.

The ongoing debate on the need to promote a common set of values on the other hand is much more complex. There is no real agreement on what British values actually are, and few individuals in public life who can articulate them, beyond vague notions about tolerance and the rule of law.

Casey directly calls for the promotion of British values in schools, and feels that the government should reconsider what is required of those applying for British citizenship.

Despite the obvious importance of making some conclusions on this issue, it seems the UK is no closer to deciding what its core values actually are. The reasons for this are numerous, but the legacy of empire, a lack of national self-confidence and decades of promoting multiculturalism as opposed to a monoculture for individuals to integrate into?- have?all played their part.

Casey’s report is detailed and extensive, with sensible recommendations. It should not just be filed away and forgotten about. Many of its key recommendations should be acted upon.

In particular, the government needs to ensure it takes the difficult steps to ensure the country’s Muslim community is better integrated into mainstream society, to avoid the more serious social divisions seen in France and Belgium.

At the very least, the government can and should find money for the English classes repeatedly recommended in government reports. Without promoting a common language, it will be very hard to even begin to think about promoting any kind of shared British values to unite the country for future generations.

James Skinner is a contributing editor at China Daily with an MA in International Relations. He has a particular interest in British and American politics, as well as global security issues.

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