A recent report has revealed that 40% of the British population holds the belief that Muslims struggle to integrate into society, and over half feel that the country’s national identity is diminishing due to increasing diversity. This report, compiled by Sara Khan, the first counter-extremism commissioner in the UK who resigned in 2024, underscores a significant disconnect between public perception and the views of the Muslim community, where 85% express a desire for integration.
The report indicates that extremist ideologies are being nurtured by hostile foreign entities as well as detrimental domestic influences. During the previous year, researchers documented 1,784 far-right events and 225 Islamist gatherings, highlighting a troubling trend in societal divisions.
At the unveiling of the report, titled “Britain Under Strain: The Broken Social Contract, Democratic Distrust and the Mainstreaming of Extremism,” Khan cautioned that there exists a “vanishingly small” opportunity for a new prime minister to effectively address the growing division and animosity within society.
A poll conducted by More in Common, which surveyed 4,094 adults earlier this spring, revealed that 28% of participants believe individuals should disregard rules and institutions that hinder necessary change. Furthermore, 61% of respondents recognized that the social contract, which is built on public trust in UK institutions and societal norms, has significantly deteriorated.
Khan remarked, “The current challenge is more profound and ingrained than when I served as counter-extremism commissioner. This is not merely a temporary dip in confidence but a structural crisis stemming from a long-term decline in trust towards institutions.” She emphasized the urgency for the incoming prime minister to tackle these issues before public anxieties erode democratic principles.
Khan, who also served as an independent advisor for social cohesion from 2021 to 2024, pointed out that the definitions of British identity and who is considered part of that identity have become contentious issues, transcending political affiliations, age groups, and geographic regions. Concerns regarding diversity undermining national identity have become widely accepted, with a majority of Britons subscribing to this viewpoint.
The survey findings show that 55% of respondents believe that Britain’s national identity is fading due to diversity. Additionally, 31% of those surveyed expressed an openness to the notion that non-white individuals may never attain the same status as white Britons.
The report, released ahead of the forthcoming UK Extremism and Democratic Resilience Centre (UKEDRC), indicates that 33% of people support the idea of remigration, while 42% maintain that Muslims cannot assimilate into British society—a belief that escalates to 71% among supporters of Reform UK.
In contrast, polling conducted among British Muslims reveals a more optimistic narrative, with 85% advocating for integration, 88% comfortable mixing with individuals of other faiths, and 85% feeling free to practice their religion. However, a significant portion of British Muslims—64%—believe that white individuals are actively opposing them, and 56% share similar sentiments towards Jewish people. Additionally, 27% expressed the belief that the Holocaust has been “invented or exaggerated.”
The report, co-authored by Dr. Matthew Godwin from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, also highlights a worrying decline in respect for societal norms and institutions. While 80% of Britons assert that political violence is unacceptable, 29% of individuals aged 18 to 34 consider it to be justifiable.
Iman Atta, director of Tell Mama, an organization dedicated to supporting victims of anti-Muslim hate and monitoring violence, described the findings as “deeply troubling.” She stated, “The rhetoric surrounding remigration is being weaponized by anti-Muslim and far-right groups, implying that British Muslim citizens should be part of a remigration process. This prejudiced viewpoint contradicts the fundamental values of our nation, including the rule of law and fairness. There are significant fractures affecting various communities and their relationships with each other, and without serious government intervention, we are likely to face turbulent times ahead.”
