The British Parliament even popularized the term “white working class” to single out a group that they thought deserved the most attention. At the same time, this once taken-for-granted constituency has become a critical political battleground. This racial group nearly uniformly resides in white enclaves on the periphery of majority minority cities. They have complicated—and in many cases, contradictory—views, often particularly on hot button issues such as immigration. According to new research and the experts we’ve talked with, this group is diverse. It is made up of a beautiful tapestry of ideas, views and lived realities.
Enclaves such as Wythenshawe, a housing estate that sprawls across the outskirts of Manchester, illustrate communities that are overwhelmingly white. These places usually land on the edges of more diverse metropolitan areas, creating a very different cultural and social environment. Joel Budd, a researcher in this field, highlights that the white working class cannot be viewed as a homogeneous entity. Rather, it’s a rich tapestry of perspectives colored by the lenses of age, geography, and personal experience.
Evidence from the British Election Study suggests a remarkable gap in attitudes toward immigration between younger and older, native-born white workers. Young people of all races in this demographic tend to hold more progressive or liberal opinions than older members of the generation. This trend illustrates a larger tendency by many to portray the white working class as a monolith opposed to immigration. The divide among these accordionists is even more interesting, as attitudes range from the progressive to the xenophobic.
The way the white working class has been traditionally portrayed as a unified community masks its natural multiculturalism. The public often wrongly associate this cohort exclusively with the likes of Blackpool, Gateshead and Paignton. At the same time, ethnic minorities are ever more clustering in big metropolitan areas, most notably London. This simplistic view fails to account for the varied experiences and opinions that exist across different regions and age groups.
In terms of immigration, the white working class has consistently been more opposed than the white middle class. This opposition is not, as it may seem, a one-dimensional anti-immigrant bloc, but instead, a nuanced and multi-faceted set of pro-and anti-immigrant sentiments. Budd’s central point is that we need to see beyond the monolith of the white working class. He goes to great lengths to showcase their social problems distinctly.
“The white working class has been neglected by the left, who have fallen silent on the subject of class politics,” Budd notes. This simple observation pinpoints an enormous problem at the heart of current British politics. Debates on immigration and diversity often do so without hearing from this emerging demographic. The story of the white working class has often been clouded by myths, stereotypes, and the media’s own shortcomings, making it even more difficult to grasp as a public.
Each of these individual stories serves to demonstrate the complexity of this unique group. One interviewee expressed frustration with aspirations tied to their socio-economic status: “I was aspirational too, until I realised there isn’t much to aspire to.” This feeling is characteristic of the disillusionment and hopelessness that can seep into communities struck by economic downtimes.
Additionally, academics and journalists have described the white working class as a “self-conscious group that feels invaded and put upon.” To call this characterization racist is to ignore the real pain and alienation behind such raw and powerful language born out of extreme economic stagnation and social change. It adds to confusion around the needs and concerns of these communities.
Budd asserts that it is possible and important to recognize the dual realities faced by this demographic: “It is possible and important to recognise both.” By acknowledging the diverse opinions within the white working class while understanding their communal struggles, policymakers can better address their concerns.
The current battle over the white working class has proven one of the most bitterly divisive issues in British politics this year. Changing narratives on immigration and American identity increasingly, mainstream discourse surrounding immigration and societal integration has begun to change. It’s important to dispel these oversimplified narratives and recognize their diverse interests and needs.