Racism growing, says poll

BRITAIN is becoming an increasingly racist society, according to a new poll to be revealed tonight.

A total of 51 per cent of people interviewed for the Channel 4 programme Bloody Foreigners said racial tension between whites and non-whites is increasing. Another 13 per cent believed the situation was improving, while 31 per cent felt it was unchanged.

The proportion of those interviewed by Gallup who believed racism is a growing problem is higher than in previous years. In 1978 the figure was 46 per cent, and in 1964 it was 26 per cent.

While there is a general belief that conflict is greater than in the past, the poll suggests increased support for mixed schools, while tighter immigration controls and voluntary repatriation both received less support than in the past.

However, 51 per cent of respondents argued immigrants should not be admitted to council housing lists on the same terms as people born in Britain.

In London yesterday six men were charged with public order offences and a seventh cautioned by police after members of the Anti-Nazi League and Youth Against Racism in Europe disrupted the far right British National Party's annual conference. Planned speakers were believed to include revisionist historian David Irving.