UK ethnic minorities to double by 2050

A report by think-tank Policy Exchange has found that the proportion of UK citizens from ethnic minority communities is set to double over the next 35 years.

The report says that by the year 2050 black and minority ethnic communities will make up almost a third of the UK population.

At the moment some eight million people, or 14% of the UK population, are from ethnic minority groups.

The report reveals that the figure has doubled over the last decade and accounts for 80% of the UK’s population growth.

The right-leaning think-tank used the report, titled ‘In A Portrait of Modern Britain’, to highlight the growing importance of ethnic minority voters in the future.

In the years to come UK politicians will have to work harder to appeal to ethnic minority groups who will make up a larger percentage of the population by 2050.

The report describes how UK politicians will soon have to begin appealing to the differing views and concerns of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Black African and Black Caribbean ethnic groups over the coming years.

Although the different groups have many diverse opinions, values and traditions, the one thing that unites the groups is voting preferences – something which most politicians and parties have yet to realise.

The report has identified the shared trait, showing that ethnic minority communities overwhelmingly identify with and vote for the Labour Party.

Some 68% voted for Gordon Brown’s party at the 2010 General Election.

Back in 2010 David Cameron’s Conservative party won just 16% of the ethnic minority vote, and the Liberal Democrats only got 14% of the vote.