The Irish have come to Britain for many years, looking for work. After World War Two Irish and other
European workers were encouraged to take factory jobs. Britain couldn’t get enough workers to help rebuild
the economy and to work in the new Health Service so employers also looked to former colonies and
Commonwealth countries. India, countries in Africa and the Caribbean had been controlled by Britain in the
past and had strong cultural links with Britain, including the language. Many arrived in the hope of building a
new life for their young families.
The descendants of these immigrants are now the teachers, the footballers, the TV presenters, the
musicians and the politicians that shape British society. There are numerous ethnic newspapers,
magazines, TV programmes, radio stations and internet sites for each community. The largest groups live
in and around the capital London and many other groups are concentrated in the industrial centres in
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