Some myths de-mystified

This was a comment in the Guardian from a member of the public. Sent to us by a reader.

It seems that when a Muslim perpetrates an act of terrorism, moralistic lectures about the collective responsibility of Islam follow as predictably as night follows day. Yet when a white Christian murders 75 people, he’s a deranged loner for whose deeds the poisonous critics of multiculturalism should not share any responsibility. Perhaps Cameron will now show a little self-awareness and stop making dog-whistle speeches about the failures of multiculturalism. In fact, he could go further and do something to destroy some of the myths created by right-wing groupthink which he has helped to make respectable:

Myth 1: “The biggest threat to the security of EU citizens is Muslim terrorism.” Yet the EU's Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (2010) states that in 2009 there were "294 failed, foiled, or successfully executed attacks" in six European countries. This was down almost one-third from the total in 2008 and down by almost one-half from the total in 2007. How many of these attacks were carried out by Muslims? Just one.

Myth 2: “Europe is being swamped by Muslim immigrants and its culture is threatened.” Wrong. By 2050 Muslim population of the EU will be about 8%, by which time its birth rate will be the same as the non-Muslim population.

Myth 3: “Immigrants refuse to integrate with the native population.” More nonsense. Asian Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus all marry outside of their own groups at the same rates as whites. For most ethnic minorities in Britain, roughly half or more of their friends are white, while only 20% of those born in Britain have friends only from their own group. In other words, immigrants are no more or less likely to integrate than native Britons who emigrate – and to suggest otherwise is racist per se. It is economic deprivation that causes racial tensions and not the failure of immigrants to integrate.

Myth 4: “Mass immigration is the fault of the left.” Another lie. In fact, many on the left of the Labour Party have been complaining long and loud about the effects of immigration on the incomes of the poorest. For example, John Cruddas (The Guardian, 20th May 2005):
“If you’re on £9 an hour and because of patterns of migration you’re now on £6.50, you’re going to have something to say about it, right? Immigration has been used as a 21st-century incomes policy. And protections in terms of the labour market have not been substantial enough.”

By contrast, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and those on the neoliberal wing of the Labour Party continue to make a case for “good” immigration – defined as that which fills labour shortages – whilst dismissing the fact that there are 2 million unemployed who ought to be capable of taking these jobs.

Myth 5: “Immigrants are a drain on the welfare state.” Wrong again. According to a Home Office report (2007) immigrants had "high levels of skills” than native born UK citizens. It said that migrants earned on average £424 per week, compared with £395 for UK-born workers, and as a result paid more per head in tax and VAT than Britons.

And I don’t recall Cameron making any speeches about multiculturalism or immigration before the recession – maybe because he and his Bullingdon chums were happy to profit from a limitless supply of low-paid housekeepers and moat-cleaners. Call me a cynic, but can it be just a coincidence that such speeches always follow cock-ups by his ministers or poor opinion-poll results?