Blears concern for 'ignored poor'

Hazel Blears said changes in communities could generate unease

The impact of immigration on some white working-class people is being ignored, Hazel Blears has suggested.

In a statement, the Communities Secretary said politicians needed to start reconnecting with local people.

Her comments coincide with the release of a report which says there is a real and perceived sense of unfairness felt by people living on estates in the UK.

The largely-anecdotal study focused on Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Thetford, and Runcorn and Widnes, Cheshire.

It found the lack of open discussion about people's concerns had created an atmosphere where rumours spread by the far-right were soon believed to be true.

On matters of housing allocation, white people felt they were most discriminated against, according to the report.

It also highlighted:

• a link between deprivation and apparent hostility to minorities. People who have the least are more likely to be afraid of things being taken away from them

• few of the people questioned had regular contact with ethnic minorities

• people did not understand integration and thought it was about migrants becoming "like us"

• respondents found it difficult to talk about their concerns openly for fear of offending or being criticised as racist

Ms Blears said: "White working-class people living on estates sometimes just don't feel anyone is listening or speaking up for them.

"Whilst they might not be experiencing the direct impact of migration, their fear of it is acute."

She said changes in communities could generate unease and uncertainty and needed explaining.

Otherwise, she said, the myths that currently surrounded the treatment of ethnic minorities "jumping the queue" would become harder to shift.

She added people should be able to speak up without fear of being branded a racist and politicians and leaders should be able to listen and respond.

Communities ministers are to hold a seminar in the coming weeks with other government departments, councils already tackling this issue and leading academics.