Why do people see Conservatives as 'racist'?

And why is it common for non-white people to vote Labour, as if that's the 'normal' thing to do given their non-white background?

I'm non-white and growing up, I was always made to think Labour is good, Conservatives are bad. Old, white, racist people. My family members always voted Labour so I just thought that was the 'right' one. Now that I'm older, I'm kind of realising this is probably something I should look into more. I don't think conservatives are 'racist', or what so many non-whites think they are.

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Reply 1

username2998742

People can have their own views. Don't be pressured into voting for Labour because of what you've been raised as. Do your own research, have your own views.
Most importantly don't stereotype an entire party. There are loads of racist people in the world, but you can't say all racists are Tories or all Tories are racists.

Reply 2

Wired_1800

Original post by bloomer36

The Conservatives are viewed as being traditional with desires to return to the way things used to be. Socially, it is focusing on community, family life and a system can be viewed as not been open to people outside of that way of life. You see this with debates on immigration where people complain about the “change” of their community which tends to mean that there are more people from other countries.

As white foreigners are difficult to differentiate from the majority of the population, those black and brown people tend to bear the brunt of the annoyance about immigration. Two people can be walking on the street, one from Sudan and the other from Bulgaria, a xenophobe may see the black Sudanese and feel upset, whilst ignoring the Bulgarian.

The extreme elements of Conservatism lies in fascism or extremist ideologies with hatred and intolerance of people different from them. We have some people, who say that Immigration is “white genocide” or that Governments are using immigration to “replace” the dominant group. These, of course, are incredibly stupid views to have and are very destructive.

On the economic front, the Conservatives tend to favour small or limited government with low taxes and free markets. This disadvantages the poor, who tend to be ethnic minorities, because they are the workers who would suffer under limited government where their rights are limited and their welfare non-existent.

We can see the above example with the destruction of the NHS, the destruction of the welfare state, the reduction in taxes, increase in homelessness etc.

For Labour, there are also negative issues that they are accused of such as fiscal irresponsibility, wealth redistribution, focusing on the poor and BAME groups over the rich and white groups etc. They also have groups that are called the “illiberal liberals”, who are as intolerant as the extreme Conservatives but seem to have interests in other things.

Labour policies tend to focus on support for the many and not the few. So they are interested in pulling up the little man rather than ensuring the rich stay rich, which seems to be the main plan of the Conservatives.

One point to note is that you should be careful of the media. Most are owned by powerful interests and will do whatever they can to keep the status quo. So they will portray the Labour Party or other parties as crazy lunatics, so people can vote for the Conservative Party and ensure they keep up with keeping the rich people rich.

As it has been suggested, you should not be focused on being either Conservative or for the Labour Party. There are other good alternatives like the Greens, SNP and so on.

Reply 3

QE2

Racism isn't reserved for Conservatives. There are plenty of Labour voters who have questionable attitudes towards minorities and immigrants - just look at the number of Leave votes in working-class, Labour areas. (Yeah, yeah, it was about x, y & z, not immigration)
It's more about outdated social attitudes than political affiliation, but the Tories are the official Party of Outdated Social Attitudes, which is why the Tory Party is seen as being inherently racist to some degree. I mean, you'd never hear Corbyn calling Africans "piccaninnies with watermelon smiles" (Johnson did).

Reply 4

Boredman6

We don't. No such thing as racism in England. In England we give people of an ethnic persuasion anything they want and we even adapted to there original culture and everything.

Reply 5

ARealNowhereMan

May I draw your attention to this slightly hyperbolic but very accurate sketch by Rowan Atkinson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg-4ATrE8n0

Reply 6

karl pilkington

anyone against immigration who has right wing views is usually described as such

Reply 7

fallen_acorns

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/25/johnson-diverse-cabinet-tory-racism-ethnic-minority-ministers

Even when the conservatives have the most diverse cabinet in history.. featuring more minority representation thatn Corbyn does. They are still wrong, because its not the right type of 'minorities' that they picked...

There are some racists in the tory party, but in general there are far far more cultural-supremacists, people who don't care what race you are, but believe that British culture is best for the country and superior to others etc. That shouldn't be surprising though, conservativism is a backwards looking ideology, which is not a criticism, there is a lot of value in understanding what put you where you are and what you should value and not give up. But it would seem to me to be impossible to have a conservative ideology, and not place a high value on British culture, because then why do you want to conserve it? If you don't believe it to be something of immense value and pride, and something better than others, why would you want to keep it?

I would actually wager money that the first non-white Priminister that we have will be a tory.

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 8

Wired_1800

Original post by fallen_acorns

I agree with your points. However, my issue with the conservative ideology on “culture” is the seeming assumption that culture is static rather than fluid. Culture is a way of life of a group of people and this changes based on several factors as well as the environment.

I admire the realistic Conservatives, who are not focused on foolish ideals on culture but are more interested in the values and traditions that have prevailed for centuries. This means that you are not less British because you are Jewish, Black, Asian or Muslim. As long as you share and advocate for the values that keep us united.

Reply 9

QE2

Original post by Boredman6

We don't. No such thing as racism in England. In England we give people of an ethnic persuasion anything they want and we even adapted to there original culture and everything.

Racist.

Reply 10

1st superstar

Original post by Boredman6

We don't. No such thing as racism in England. In England we give people of an ethnic persuasion anything they want and we even adapted to there original culture and everything.

hmm pretty most people who voted for Brexit were like "THESE STUPID GOD IMMIGRANTS ARE TAKING OUR JOBS... WE NEED TO PROTECT OUT BOARDERS AND KICK THEM OUT (probably cause they were not white/were Islamic... sorry had to say it!!)", seems a little racist to me (other than "wanting to protect the country") and that's the key and main driving factor as to why people voted for Brexit... because of the migration crisis. Also racism exists EVERYWHERE and it will never end...

Reply 11

Boredman6

Original post by 1st superstar

Actually Brexit seems more racist towards Europeans rather than Islamic people or other ethnic groups.
If people voted Brexit to get rid of Indians, Pakistan's, Arabs and blacks then they are pretty stupid.

Reply 12

QE2

Original post by Boredman6

"Nearly a third of Brexit voters believe Muslim immigration is part of a plot to Islamicise Britain" - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/brexit-voters-immigration-muslims-islam-leave-remain-yougov-survey-trump-a8648586.html

Nuff said!

Reply 13

1st superstar

Original post by Boredman6

then everyone who voted for Brexit is stupid (other than you if you voted for it)

Reply 14

Boredman6

Original post by 1st superstar

then everyone who voted for Brexit is stupid (other than you if you voted for it)

Well yes I guess that must be the case then.
Because Brexit will only stop European immigration, it doesn't stop immigration from outside Europe.
I voted Brexit because of the huge number of Polish. I'm no way satisfied with the immigration that will still come from outside of Europe. Also I would like alot of people kicked out but I know that's not at all possible.

Reply 15

Rakas21

Original post by bloomer36

From the prospective of a non-white it probably comes down to the fact that party policy has always been to tighten immigration from outside the EU since the 2001 election which was the first fought after Labour opened the taps on immigration.

Statistically though it's actually quite untrue because it comes down to which type of immigrant group you are. Muslims and black people for example have historically voted heavily Labour but actually Orientals, Jews and Indians do statistically vote Tory.

This does link into what Fallen Acorns said (and as a Tory i agreed with just about every word) in that the reason for the split perception from immigrants is actually more to do with how they are viewed by society and how well they integrate. Jews and Indians for example integrate extremely well into British society and are well regarded (we view them as Doctors or Financiers), Oriental folk while often a bit quiet are not really religious and within a generation or two are as British as i am. Contrast that to black people who while integrated occupy the lowest social strata (not really respected either because of their high crime rates) or Muslims (most British people do view Islam as a threat), the later of which gathers in communities like Bradford and is not seen as well integrated.

But broadly as a Tory my attitude to immigrants was summed up well by Fallen Acorns in that i do place some value on preserving British identity, i don't see the value in diversity, i think multi-culturalism has been horrific in allowing them to congregate and build mosques and the like everywhere (i have lived on the outskirts of Bradford most of my life and it feels like a foreign city) but at the same time my primary concerns are economic so if you are prepared to come here, speak English (we should not hear foreign languages spoken on British streets) and integrate with the local community rather than your own then i welcome immigration.

Reply 16

Boredman6

Original post by QE2

Nuff said!

Well those voters are stupid then.
Even Nigel Farage "the king of Brexit and it's inventer" has more or less said European immigration can stop while outside of Europe is open.

Reply 17

mnot

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by bloomer36

Do your own research,

but generally speaking: Tories are free-market, small government, steady economic growth strategy, use taxation as to means to fund the costs of the country.

Labour: Always been socialist (softened a little in the Blair years), support wealth redistribution, big-government and maximum regulation.