The Prime Minister lauds the nation’s “fantastic multicultural democracy”, distancing himself from Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s remarks.
Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, has highlighted the strength of the UK’s “fantastic multicultural democracy”. His comments directly oppose the views of Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, who earlier this week stated that multiculturalism had been unsuccessful. Braverman’s assertions, made during a speech to a US thinktank, drew criticisms not only from her Conservative peers but also elicited a rebuttal from the UN’s refugee agency.
Sunak, during his conversation with the BBC, refrained from supporting Braverman’s views, instead expressing admiration for the UK’s achievements in multiculturalism. He stated, “We have done an incredible job of integrating people into society,” emphasising the significance of his own position as the first individual from his background to serve as Prime Minister. He believes the country’s progress in this arena is something that should be celebrated.
Braverman, in her discourse in Washington DC, described multiculturalism as a “misguided dogma” that has permitted individuals to lead “parallel lives”. She further touched upon topics including the UN’s refugee convention of 1951 and the European convention on human rights (ECHR). Sunak, when quizzed about the ECHR, reaffirmed his confidence in the government’s immigration strategy, assuring its alignment with international obligations.
The UN’s refugee agency responded to Braverman’s statements, backing the 1951 refugee convention and clarifying the differences between persecution and discrimination. They emphasised the enduring relevance of the convention, especially for individuals at risk due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Braverman’s speech to the American Enterprise Institute had also contained remarks on multiculturalism’s supposed failure in integration. She stated that its shortcomings are evident across Europe, citing instances from cities such as Malmö, Paris, Brussels, and Leicester. Source
