More than half of Londoners think the nation has become a less tolerant place since last year’s Brexit vote, according to research carried out by Opinium.
The film has being polling people across the country for its second annual ‘Multicultural Britain in the 21st Century’ study which is due to be published next Friday.
Ahead of Wednesday’s triggering of Article 50, which will officially start the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, the firm has released figures showing how the public perceive racial tolerance in the wake of the vote.
In the capital 52% say the country has become a less tolerant place, slightly higher than the UK-wide finding of 49%.
However while Londoners are more likely to say the country is less tolerant, the number from BME communities saying so is slightly lower in the capital (49%) than across the country as a whole (52%).
And Opinium has found that white Londoners (57%) are more likely to agree with the proposition than those from BME communities (49%).
However 58% of BME Londoners report being a victim of racial discrimination, an increase on the 56% found in last year’s report. While higher than 12 months ago, the figure is lower than the 64% for the UK as a whole which also also grew from a 56% finding in 2016.
James Endersby, Managing Director of Opinium said: “As we begin to see the reality of Brexit take shape, it is vital that we not only consider how this impacts our relationship with Europe but also the attitudes of our own citizens.
“Our research shows that people have noticed the impact the vote has had on our attitude to multiculturalism and integration – hopefully this report’s findings will provide both the public and policy makers with insights that can contribute to a more unified and integrated society.”
