Britain, like most other highly developed societies, has become increasingly diverse over the last 50 years. From around 3% in 1950, the proportion of the British population with a migration background rose to nearly 20% in the 2011 census. Among young people the proportion was considerably higher. In some parts of the country it is over 50%.

But increasing diversity has not affected all areas of the UK equally. Despite a long series of government reports, most recently Dame Louise Casey's review of social integration, there has never been a national integration strategy.