Asians 'Do Not Back Blair on Iraq Stance'

By Joe Hildebrand, PA News


Most Asians in the UK oppose the way the Prime Minister is handling the situation in Iraq, a survey shows today.

The poll, conducted by MORI at the behest of the BBC Asian Network, found that 61% of Asians in Britain disapprove of the premier’s approach to Iraq, more than 10% higher than the country’s population across the board.

But at the same time the exact same number also supports the banning of extremist Muslim groups in Britain, with only 15% opposing such a move.

Even among Muslims, 55% thought fanatical organisations should be banned.

More than a quarter of the 507 people surveyed said they had experienced racism or religious discrimination in the past 12 months and 40% had done so in their lifetimes.

Almost half (48%) approved of arranged marriages compared to only a quarter who disapproved.

And while 43% supported marriages between different ethnic groups – compared with 29% against – 45% opposed marriages between people from different religious backgrounds compared with only a third in favour.

Asian film stars topped the list for those most admired, but Mr Blair collected 21%, beating England and Manchester United captain David Beckham on 19% and cricket captain Nasser Hussain on 11%. Iain Duncan Smith could manage only 1%.

Two-thirds said that young British Asians were more British than Asian, however the respondents were split down the middle on the question of whether immigrants should be encouraged to speak English in the home.

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