The Unseen Cracks in Britain's Identity: Long-Term Citizens Jealous of Heritage

Britain's story is, and always has been, a story of movement. From ancient migrations to waves of settlement, our island nation has been shaped by those who arrive on its shores. For many who descend from immigrants who arrived around the middle of the last century, their family's journey is, of course,  a palpable, living history – a narrative told through generations, often marked by distinct cultural practices and a clear awareness of their roots beyond Britain. Alternatively, there are those who have a rather muddled idea of their presence. In contrast, there are those whose family trees stretch back centuries through British records, their heritage seemingly seamlessly woven into the fabric of the land, and this includes those who have this characteristic strongly from one parent more than the other.

This distinction forms the bedrock of many contemporary debates about identity and belonging. Far-right movements like Britain First capitalise on these simplified narratives, campaigning for a, "Britain for the English", a vision of White prominence that aims to exclude and marginalise. They often present illegal immigration as a phenomenon solely associated with people of whom have brown skin, fueling anxieties and divisive rhetoric.

But within the complex tapestry of British identity, there's a fascinating and deeply troubling paradox emerging, one that challenges these simplistic binaries and exposes the true, insidious nature of racial bias.


The White Immigrant Dilemma

Dig a little deeper, and you find a significant group of individuals who, despite identifying as White, also feel a profound connection to their immigrant heritage – albeit from earlier waves of migration. Perhaps their ancestors arrived from the ending of persecution by the Nazis in Germany, or other parts of the continent generations ago, not excluding parts of Asia, such as southern and central Asia. While outwardly "White British," they carry an ancestral memory of being 'the other', of having to be assimilated, of facing their own brand of prejudice. This often being merely a state of mind, derived from being less familiar with traditions.

This shared, albeit sometimes distant, experience of migration might, at first glance, appear to foster empathy for newer arrivals. However, what has been observed is a far more complex and alarming dynamic. Some of these individuals, while defending their own historical immigrant status, and simultaneously attempting to sweep it under the carpet, unfortunately often guide and coerce newer immigrants on racial biases. They become arbiters of who, "deserves", to be here, and crucially, who fits their vision of Britain.


A Preference for Illegality, If Immigrants Appear White

Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of this phenomenon is their strong support for newer immigrants, but with a deeply racialised caveat: they desire a population of majority White immigrants. This preference extends to the point of prioritising illegal activity – explicitly favouring and supporting illegal immigrants, provided they are White.

This position is a stark contradiction to the far-right's narrative. While groups like Britain First try to paint illegal immigrants solely as individuals with brown skin, this internal group of White descendants of immigrants, ironically, champions a form of illegal immigration that aligns with their racial preferences. It exposes the raw nerve of white identity politics: the concern isn't truly about legality or the rule of law, but about maintaining a perceived racial balance or dominance. Their, "preference for illegal activity", seems to be a desperate means to an end, ensuring that if immigration must happen, it adheres to their racial ideal, even if it means undermining the very legal structures they might otherwise claim to uphold.


The Unsettling Truth of Populism

This whole convoluted dilemma creates a profound sense of unease and betrayal for many individuals who possess a more extensive and visibly intertwined British heritage. Their understanding of Britishness – often rooted in a long history of contributing to the nation's fabric – is challenged and distorted by these competing, racially biased narratives.

Populism, with its cynical calculus, thrives on such dilemmas. It offers no genuine guarantee for all with British heritage and a history of being a prominent part of this country. Instead, it weaponises divisions, exploits anxieties, and simplifies complex identities into expedient soundbites. It pits groups against each other, even within what might appear to be a homogenous, "White", demographic, solely to gain political traction.

The lines between who deems who to belong are being redrawn, not just along the overt axes of race and nation, but along subtler, more insidious lines of racial preference and selective empathy, and frankly,it is clearly noted that hostile illegal immigrants have themselves, had enough of this and thus so choose to act in hostile ways, in a continuum. Until we confront these uncomfortable truths about the complexities of identity, heritage, and the racial biases that permeate even unexpected corners of our society, the promise of an inclusive Britain will remain just that – a promise, unfulfilled.