Beyond Division

‘Multicultural Nationalism’ and the White Working-Class

Sam Taylor Hill, John Denham and Tariq Modood consider a way for progressives to counter the divisions being exploited by Reform UK and the Conservatives

Keir Starmer’s regret about talking of an “island of strangers” was widely seen as a defeat for the newly resurgent ‘Blue Labour’ faction – even if his Government’s white paper still claimed that uncontrolled immigration has caused “incalculable damage”.

But what should Labour’s relationship be with white working-class voters? And, more fundamentally, how can we all live together?

In our view, the answers lie in a ‘multicultural nationalism’ that creates explicit space for white working-class experiences, views, and aspirations within a cohesive diverse nation.