1970s Race Relations

Question 1

1971 Immigration Act

Answer 1

• Passed by Conservative government
• Restricted people from the New Commonwealth from entering Britain
• Immigrants would need to have a guaranteed job and at least one grandparent born in Britain
• Critics accused the Conservatives of appealing to Powellism

Question 2

Arrival of Ugandan Asians

Answer 2

• Dictator of Uganda, Idi Amin, persecuted then expelled Ugandan Asians
• Many of these move from India to Uganda when it was still a British colony, made exceptions to the 1971 Immigration Act
• 28,000 Ugandan Asians arrived in Britain
• There was also a rush from Bangladesh after breaking away from Pakistan in 1974

Question 3

Immigrants Political Representation

Answer 3

• 1974: Over 1 million New Commonwealth immigrants had arrived in Britain
• 325,000 - West Indies
• 435,000 - India/Pakistan
• 150,000 - Africa
• Limited political representation
• 1978: 35 non-white councillors elected in London Borough elections however it did not represent the population size of immigrants in London

Question 4

Rise of the National Front

Answer 4

• National Front: racist neo-Nazi political movement founded in 1967 by John Tyndall
• Opposed non-white immigration
• Active in parts of London with high immigrant population, e.g. Southall
• 1976: 20,000 members
• 1977: Fourth largest political party
• Held marches and demonstrations in areas with high numbers of immigrants, often provocative and violent
• 1976-1978: 2 murders
• Assaults/robberies on Asians and Afro-Caribbeans rose by a third
• 1977: Anti-Nazi League set up to combat the National Front

Question 5

Skinheads

Answer 5

• Developed from 1960s youth culture (hippies/skinheads)
• Many skinheads weren’t political but were becoming increasingly linked to the National Front and football hooliganism in the 70s
• Often behind violent attacks on ethnic minorities - ‘P**I bashing’

Question 6

Policing & Ethnic Minorities

Answer 6

• 1976: Only 70 police officers of black/minority backgrounds in London Metropolitan Police out of 22,000
• 1976: Riot at Notting Hill Carnival, over 300 people were injured
• Suspicions of police force from the public after the death of Blair Peach
• 1979: Anti-Nazi League supporter killed at anti-racism demonstration, allegedly struck on the head by the police - Metropolitan Police admitted responsibility for the death of Blair Peach in 2010

Question 7

Popular Culture & Racism

Answer 7

• Local authorities began to follow multicultural policies - sought to recognise/respect different cultures and ethnicities
• 1978: Viv Anderson became the first Black player to be picked for the England team
• Caribbean Reggae and Ska became increasingly popular

Question 8

Thatcher & Race Relations

Answer 8

• Late 1970s, Margaret Thatcher announced that the Conservative Party would toughen immigration policy further in order to limit the number of immigrants coming into Britain
• Some complained that Thatcher’s words were designed to appeal to racists
• Received 100 letters in support
• Conservative Party opened an 11% lead in the opinion polls