A report authored by Sara Khan, the UK's former counter-extremism commissioner, has found that two in five Britons believe Muslims cannot integrate into British society. The study, titled Britain Under Strain: The Broken Social Contract, Democratic Distrust and the Mainstreaming of Extremism, also reveals that more than half of respondents think the country's national identity is disappearing due to diversity.
Key Findings on Integration and National Identity
The poll of 4,094 adults, conducted by More in Common this spring, found that 55% of people believe Britain's national identity is fading because of diversity. Nearly a third (31%) of respondents said they were open to the view that non-white people would never be as British as white people. Additionally, 33% support remigration—the policy of encouraging or forcing immigrants to return to their country of origin—and 42% think Muslims cannot integrate. Among Reform UK supporters, this figure rose to 71%.
Contrasting Views Among British Muslims
Khan highlighted a stark contrast with polling of British Muslims, which showed that 85% favour integration, 88% mix comfortably with other faiths, and 85% feel free to practise their religion. However, the survey also found that 64% of British Muslims believe white people are working against them, 56% think Jewish people are, and 27% believe the Holocaust was invented or exaggerated.
Erosion of Trust in Institutions
The report warns of a breakdown in the social contract—the trust between the public and UK institutions. Nearly two in three (61%) respondents believe this contract has broken down, and 28% think individuals should ignore rules and institutions that obstruct change. Furthermore, 80% of Britons say political violence is never acceptable, but 29% of 18- to 34-year-olds consider it acceptable.
Exploitation by Hostile States
Khan noted that extremist views are being exploited and promoted by hostile states and malign domestic actors. Researchers logged 1,784 far-right offline events and 225 Islamist events over a 12-month period. She warned: "The challenge now facing us is more serious, and more deeply rooted, than when I was counter-extremism commissioner. This is not a passing dip in confidence but a structural crisis as a result of a chronic erosion of trust in institutions. The window to grip this is vanishingly small."
Reactions and Urgency
Iman Atta, director of Tell Mama, an NGO that supports victims of anti-Muslim hate, described the findings as "deeply, deeply troubling." She said: "The language of remigration is being used by anti-Muslim and far-right groups to suggest that British Muslim citizens should ultimately be part of the remigration process. This prejudicial and bigoted perspective goes against the core values of our country." The report, published before the launch of the UK Extremism and Democratic Resilience Centre (UKEDRC), calls for urgent action from the incoming prime minister to address what Khan describes as a "structural crisis."
