British public attitudes and ethnic minorities

Public attitudes constrain the content of most new policy proposals. Despite knowing this, policy projects often start without possessing a detailed understanding of what public opinion actually is in relation to that policy. This results in guesses and estimates about the public reaction to policy proposals akin to shadow boxing; the opponent is definitely there but little else is known about them. When an opinion survey is taken toward the end of the project, the population often surprises policy makers by their enthusiasm or scorn for certain idea, at which point it is too late in the say to react. It is therefore an early priority of the PIU Ethnic Minorities and Labour Markets (EMLM) team to develop a clear understanding of public attitudes concerning ethnic minorities, and what this means for a government keen to improve the situation for disadvantaged groups. It is especially important to have a clear view in the field of ethnic minorities, as feelings and beliefs tend to be strong and politically sensitive.