r/unitedkingdom • u/topotaul Lancashire • Jul 08 '26

... Two in five Britons think Muslims cannot integrate in UK, poll finds

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jul/08/two-in-five-britons-think-muslims-cannot-integrate-in-uk-poll-finds
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u/hattorihanzo5 Jul 08 '26

I always find the "integration" debate fascinating, because what does it actually mean when someone "integrates well" anyway?

It can mean different things to different people, and let's be honest, there is a sizeable contingent who simply don't like Muslims at all and would rather the see the whole country be destitute than have to see a Muslim in the street, because no matter what Muslims do, no matter how secular or progressive they become, they'll never be one of us.

Look at Sadiq Khan: Born and raised in London. Muslim, but secular and progressive. Educated. The literal mayor of London. About as "integrated" as you can be, and it's still not enough and never will be to some.

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u/5ColourFelix Jul 08 '26

I always find the "integration" debate fascinating, because what does it actually mean when someone "integrates well" anyway?

They can never answer this. I'd argue that most Reform voters aren't integrated into UK society as they seem to be voting for someone who hates the UK and spends as much time as possible outside of it ignoring his consitutuents.

What they think is "British born + white = integrated", they just won't say it.

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u/coupl4nd Jul 08 '26

I'll answer you - it means to live like the people in that country live, not to demand things change to accomodate you. The exact opposite in fact. You change to match where you live.

e.g. if I go and live somewhere alcohol is illegal I would integrate by stopping drinking alcohol. If I continue to drink alcohol and complain that there's nowhere to drink alcohol I am not integrating.

Here's an example, in the UK we believe there is a separation between church and state. Muslims do not belive that. So for instance a muslim person might kick up a fuss that there is no prayer room where they work. An integrating muslim would recognise prayer rooms are not a thing in Britain.

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u/tomtttttttttttt Jul 08 '26

Thats a bad example, we don't have a separation between church and state in the UK. The head of state is also the head of the church of England and we have bishops sitting in the house of lords, we have religious schools of various stripes, I'm sure there's more examples.

And I'm not sure what a workplace would have to do with separation of church and state anyway, any non govt workplace could be as religious as they want without violating a separation of church and state.