THE ORGANISERS of a panel on immigration that took place in Bradford have said their views of the city were shifted following the event.

The first National Conversation event was a chance for people to have their say on immigration policy following the Brexit decision. It was one of 60 stakeholder and citizen panels that are taking place across the UK and the findings will then feed into the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee’s immigration inquiry.

In a blog posted after the Bradford event, Jill Rutter, director of strategy at organiser British Future, outlines how before visiting Bradford they had an image of a city that “was not integrated, rather being divided along ethnic lines”.

“The availability of housing in the 1950s and 1960s led to Pakistani migrants settling in particular areas of the city, with subsequent reports suggesting that the white British population and Pakistani-heritage populations lead ‘parallel lives’,” she wrote.

“Certainly, much residential segregation remains, although there are mixed neighbourhoods. But both our stakeholders and citizens’ panels argued that integration was not just about where you lived, but also who you met at work or at school and college.”

She also states that the citizens’ panel was very proud of their diverse city, writing: “Bradford’s inclusive identity and civic pride seems to have the effect of bridging divides and bringing communities together. Bradford is an ethnically diverse city with a long history of immigration: from Irish, Polish and South Asian migrants, as well as German and eastern European Jews after the Second World War; and, more recently, a third wave of migration from eastern Europe. The city is home to about 800 asylum seekers and nearly 2,000 overseas students who have come to study at Bradford University. Migration has been part of Bradford’s DNA for over two centuries. Over the years, most of those have moved to the city have found a job, made new friends brought up their families. While the city has accommodated these new arrivals, it has also faced some of the challenges of integration experienced by other northern towns and cities. The pressures and gains of migration were reflected in what we were told on our visit.”

While members of the panel were generally happy with migrants who have come to work, and the majority were happy for the numbers of high-skilled migrants to be increased, there were mixed views about refugees. There were views that asylum-seekers were being drawn to the UK by benefits.

“This first visit has raised many issues and changed some of our views on integration,” she added.

The National Conversation is being coordinated by independent thinktank British Future and campaigners HOPE Not Hate and will take place in a different locations each week, in every region and nation of the UK. It has been made possible through funds raised by the public in memory of former Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox MP after her murder last year. An online survey offers everyone a chance to have their say, which is available at nationalconversation.org.uk.

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