Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
An island of strangers? Immigration and integration : Speeches Battle of Ideas Festival 25
#immigrationdebate #integration #britishpolitics #identitypolitics #battleofideas
In the past, Britain oversaw tens of thousands of migrants arriving from its own former colonies in the West Indies or South Asia, all under a common citizenship. Many of these newcomers identified with Britain, and despite pockets of racism, willingly assimilated themselves.
But unprecedented numbers arriving in recent years make that approach seem unmanageable. And politically, the notion of a common culture is portrayed as backward and parochial. British citizens are constantly told to repudiate their collective traditions and history by those who Professor James Orr calls ‘rootless, cosmopolitical ideologues’, too often leading to competing identity groups living parallel lives. The loss of a commitment to common norms, a sense of belonging and a collective national story – one that could integrate new arrivals into a united nation of many strangers – is now under strain.
Is the immigration debate – which may be motivated by a reasonable demand to control our borders and streets – spiralling towards darker sentiments? Is immigration really the reason for feelings of estrangement? Does that explain why so many people plan to vote Reform or attended the Unite the Kingdom march? Are migrants being scapegoated for broader reasons that the country seems so ill at ease with itself or for why people feel fed up with being ignored, powerless, disconnected, estranged?
The speakers on the panel are:
Dolan Cummings - Writer and novelist; co-director, Manifesto Club
Inaya Folarin Iman - Broadcaster and columnist; founder and director, The Equiano Project
Lord Maurice Glasman - Labour life peer; author, Blue Labour: the politics of the common good; director, the Common Good Foundation
Ike Ijeh - Author; architect; founder, London Architecture Walks; founding signatory, Don't Divide Us
Dr Tony Sewell - Founder and director, Generating Genius; author, Black Success, The Surprising Truth
The chair is: Alastair Donald - Co-convenor, Battle of Ideas festival; convenor, Living Freedom; organiser, European Free Speech Network
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 25. WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 50 sessions at the festival. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/charity/worldwrite Or hit the Donate button below the video. Thank You.
An island of strangers? Immigration and integration : Speeches Battle of Ideas Festival 25
#immigrationdebate #integration #britishpolitics #identitypolitics #battleofideas
In the past, Britain oversaw tens of thousands of migrants arriving from its own former colonies in the West Indies or South Asia, all under a common citizenship. Many of these newcomers identified with Britain, and despite pockets of racism, willingly assimilated themselves.
But unprecedented numbers arriving in recent years make that approach seem unmanageable. And politically, the notion of a common culture is portrayed as backward and parochial. British citizens are constantly told to repudiate their collective traditions and history by those who Professor James Orr calls ‘rootless, cosmopolitical ideologues’, too often leading to competing identity groups living parallel lives. The loss of a commitment to common norms, a sense of belonging and a collective national story – one that could integrate new arrivals into a united nation of many strangers – is now under strain.
Is the immigration debate – which may be motivated by a reasonable demand to control our borders and streets – spiralling towards darker sentiments? Is immigration really the reason for feelings of estrangement? Does that explain why so many people plan to vote Reform or attended the Unite the Kingdom march? Are migrants being scapegoated for broader reasons that the country seems so ill at ease with itself or for why people feel fed up with being ignored, powerless, disconnected, estranged?
The speakers on the panel are:
Dolan Cummings - Writer and novelist; co-director, Manifesto Club
Inaya Folarin Iman - Broadcaster and columnist; founder and director, The Equiano Project
Lord Maurice Glasman - Labour life peer; author, Blue Labour: the politics of the common good; director, the Common Good Foundation
Ike Ijeh - Author; architect; founder, London Architecture Walks; founding signatory, Don't Divide Us
Dr Tony Sewell - Founder and director, Generating Genius; author, Black Success, The Surprising Truth
The chair is: Alastair Donald - Co-convenor, Battle of Ideas festival; convenor, Living Freedom; organiser, European Free Speech Network
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 25. WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 50 sessions at the festival. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/charity/worldwrite Or hit the Donate button below the video. Thank You.
