by Patrick West, spiked
Multiculturalism and liberal cowardice have promoted ethnic strife and undermined common values.
Diversity, for so long championed as the source of our strength, is rapidly proving the UK’s undoing. There can be little doubt now that Britain is becoming a sectarian state. The signs are everywhere. Flags on streets demarking ethnic enclaves, communities living parallel lives, ‘community leaders’ assuming the position of fiefdom chiefs, areas in our towns and cities becoming no-go areas for certain ethnic groups, police dictating where and when which groups may or may not assemble… these were the hallmarks of Northern Ireland from the 1970s to the 1990s.
The ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending a Europa League fixture with Aston Villa has felt like a tipping point. It has confirmed the fears of many that Britain is now a country in which the authorities feel powerless to prevent intra-communal violence, or that they have surrendered to the demands of one ethno-religious group at the expense of the safety of another.
Britain’s apparent fragmentation has numerous, oft-cited causes. Many point the finger to the increased and unsustainable levels of immigration since the 1990s. The craven capitulation by the authorities in Birmingham points to another: the ingrained cowardice of our liberal elites, who fear to speak about or act upon grave problems for fear of being called racist.