Multiculturalism and multiracialism are often framed as challenges stemming from interactions between racially distinct groups—think Black and White, Asian and Hispanic, or Arab and European. However, a recent Daily Sceptic article (April 23, 2025) reveals that these tensions can also arise within racial groups, as seen in a reported incident of interethnic conflict between the English and Welsh in Wales. The piece describes an English tourist and a man, mistaken for Welsh due to their accents, facing hostility from a Welsh shopkeeper who refused service, suspecting their English identity. This incident, paired with broader data on ethnic minority access to education in Wales, underscores a critical point: cultural and ethnic divides, even within the same race, can fuel exclusion, resentment, and systemic inequality. This blog article explores the complexities of intra-racial conflict, its implications for multiculturalism, and what it means for building cohesive societies.
The Daily Sceptic recounts an English tourist and a man being denied service at a Welsh shop while on holiday, with the shopkeeper assuming they were English based on their accents and loudly declaring, "I can assure you I'm not an English ****!" The pair apologised in English, reinforcing the shopkeeper's suspicion, despite their uncertainty about the man's actual identity. This misunderstanding captures a deeper cultural friction between the English and Welsh, rooted in historical grievances, linguistic differences, and national identity.
Historically, Wales has faced cultural suppression under English dominance, from the 1536 Laws in Wales Acts that imposed English governance to the decline of the Welsh language (now spoken by 20% of the population, per 2021 Census data). The Welsh independence movement, though small (Plaid Cymru holds 4 of 32 Welsh seats in the UK Parliament as of 2024), reflects lingering resentment over perceived English hegemony. The shopkeeper's reaction, while extreme, mirrors a broader sentiment of cultural defensiveness—a desire to protect Welsh identity against an English majority often seen as dismissive or overbearing.
The English-Welsh divide challenges the assumption that multiculturalism's difficulties stem solely from racial differences. Here, both groups are racially White but ethnically distinct, with the English (84% of the UK population) and Welsh (1.6%) sharing a race but not a cultural identity. This intra-racial conflict reveals several layers of complexity:
Language often symbolises identity, and in Wales, the Welsh language (Cymraeg) is a cultural cornerstone. The shopkeeper's hostility may have been triggered by the absence of Welsh language use, perceived as a marker of Englishness. A 2023 study by Cardiff University found that 45% of Welsh speakers feel their language is undervalued by English-speaking UK residents, fuelling a sense of cultural erasure. Miscommunications, like the one in the article, highlight how linguistic differences can escalate into exclusionary behaviour, even without racial divides.
The shopkeeper's assumption that the pair were English reflects a broader tendency to stereotype based on cultural cues like accents. In this case, the quick leap to hostility—"I'm not an English ****!"—suggests a preconceived resentment toward the English, possibly rooted in historical power imbalances. Similarly, the English tourist's inability to grasp the shopkeeper's Welsh context underscores mutual ignorance. Studies on interethnic relations in the UK (e.g., British Social Attitudes Survey, 2024) show that 30% of Welsh respondents feel "culturally misunderstood" by the English, compared to 15% of English respondents who feel the same about the Welsh. This asymmetry breeds friction.
The Daily Sceptic also notes a related issue: ethnic minority students in Wales are offered £5,000 more than their White classmates to become teachers, a policy labelled "anti-racist" by the Welsh Government but criticised as "racist" by the article's author. This policy, aimed at addressing underrepresentation (only 1.3% of Welsh teachers are from ethnic minorities, per 2023 data), inadvertently alienates White Welsh and English residents who feel excluded. The Welsh Government's additional £5,000 for ethnic minorities, Angolans, and Zimbabweans highlights a well-intentioned but divisive approach, as it prioritises racial diversity over intra-racial equity, potentially deepening local resentment.
The English-Welsh incident shows that multiculturalism isn't just about race—it's about navigating ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity within racial groups. In the UK, where 81.7% of the population is White (2021 Census), intra-racial tensions like those between the English, Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Irish are often overlooked. Yet, these divides can be as potent as interracial ones:
Identity Politics: The Welsh shopkeeper's reaction reflects a defensive nationalism, a pushback against perceived cultural dominance. This mirrors global trends where minority cultures (e.g., Catalans in Spain, Quebecois in Canada) assert identity against a majority, even within the same race.
Economic and Social Disparities: Wales has a GDP per capita of £23,700 (2023), 25% below the UK average (£31,800), partly due to historical underinvestment under English-led policies. This economic gap fuels resentment, as seen in the shopkeeper's hostility, which may stem from broader frustrations with English privilege.
Policy Missteps: The Welsh Government's teacher incentive program, while addressing racial diversity, ignores intra-racial equity. Policies that appear to favour one group over another—whether racial or ethnic—risk alienating others, undermining social cohesion.
The English-Welsh case offers lessons for multicultural societies globally:
Cultural Sensitivity is Universal: Misunderstandings aren't limited to interracial contexts. In Canada, French-English tensions within the White population echo the Welsh-English divide, with 35% of Quebecois feeling culturally marginalised (2024 survey). In the U.S., intra-racial divides between White ethnic groups (e.g., Italian-Americans vs. Irish-Americans) have historically sparked conflict, though less so today.
Inclusion Requires Nuance: Policies like Wales' teacher incentives must balance racial and ethnic equity. Excluding White Welsh or English students to boost minority representation can backfire, creating new forms of resentment. A 2024 study by the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that 40% of White Britons feel diversity initiatives "go too far," a sentiment exacerbated by intra-racial exclusion.
Dialogue Over Division: The shopkeeper's outburst highlights a lack of dialogue. Platforms for cultural exchange—e.g., bilingual education, community events—could bridge gaps. In Wales, initiatives like the Eisteddfod festival promote Welsh culture, but could do more to engage English residents, fostering mutual understanding.
Addressing intra-racial conflict within multiculturalism requires a multi-pronged approach:
1.Education and Awareness: Schools in Wales and the UK should teach the history and culture of all British nations—English, Welsh, Cornish, Scottish, and Northern Irish—to reduce stereotypes. A 2023 YouGov poll found that 60% of English respondents couldn't name a Welsh cultural tradition beyond rugby, indicating a knowledge gap.
2.Policy Equity: The Welsh Government should reconsider its teacher incentive program to include economically disadvantaged White Welsh students, ensuring inclusivity. A universal £2,500 incentive for all underprivileged students, regardless of race, could address disparities without alienating any group.
3.Cultural Exchange: Grassroots initiatives—like mixed-language community centres or joint English-Welsh cultural festivals—can break down barriers. In Catalonia, Spanish-Catalan language programs have reduced tensions, with 70% of participants reporting improved interethnic relations (2024 study).
4.Economic Investment: Addressing Wales' economic lag through targeted investment—e.g., tech hubs in Cardiff, infrastructure in rural areas—can reduce resentment tied to historical inequities. The UK Government's Levelling Up program, though flawed, offers a model, with £4.8 billion allocated by 2025.
The English-Welsh conflict in the Daily Sceptic article reveals that multiculturalism's challenges extend beyond race, encompassing intra-racial ethnic and cultural divides. The hostility faced by the English tourist in Wales, paired with divisive policies like the Welsh teacher incentive program, underscores how historical grievances, cultural misunderstandings, and systemic inequities can fracture even racially homogeneous societies. For multiculturalism to succeed, it must address these intra-racial tensions with the same urgency as interracial ones, through education, equitable policies, and cultural dialogue. Only then can societies like the UK—or any diverse nation—build true cohesion, ensuring that diversity, whether racial or ethnic, becomes manageable rather than a source of division.
https://dailysceptic.org/2025/04/23/why-dont-the-english-count-as-an-ethnic-minority-in-wales/
"Consider the following alleged unpleasant experience of an English tourist entering a small, privately-owned shop whilst on holiday in Wales. A customer and the man behind the counter were initially happily chatting in English, yet switched immediately into the Welsh tongue as soon as they saw the despised interloper enter. Not actually able to speak a single word of Welsh, but guessing the broad likely gist of what the duo were saying, the quick-thinking holidaymaker loudly declared, "I can assure you I'm not an English ****!" Sure enough, the pair then immediately apologised (in English), saying they thought he was an Englishman. He told them that he was, and exited the shop without making any purchase.
Overall, I think it possible to say there is a certain amount of strongly-held anti-English sentiment in Wales. That is why, when one reader saw the recent Daily Sceptic story that, as our report had it, "Ethnic minority students have been offered £5,000 more than their white classmates to become teachers in Wales as part of an 'anti-racist' scheme", he promptly wrote in to point out that this was in itself racist as, technically speaking, English people were an ethnic minority in Wales too, not just Angolans and Zimbabweans, so should therefore automatically be given access to the Welsh Government's handy extra five grand too, should they not?