Coping with colonial immigration, the cold war and colonial policy: The labour government and black communities in Great Britain 1945–51

Abstract

The impact of immigration from the Empire, and in particular from the West Indies and some of the West African colonies, did not pass unnoticed by government departments during the tenure of the Labour government 1945–51. In their deliberations, this article argues, those departments were influenced by a variety of considerations all of which ultimately built up to a policy of inaction. Migration, the largescale movement of population, raised deep suspicion in the Labour movement generally. There was little understanding, knowledge or sympathy for the isolated black residential communities in the seaports that had eked out an existence for nearly a century. They were almost totally regarded as havens for unemployed black men, shiftless white women and half‐caste children. Race riots, adverse social conditions and the Depression had left these areas more remote and distinct from the rest of the nation. In the aftermath of the Labour victory in 1945 and the changes wrought by war, great efforts were made to create a Welfare State, the benefits of which would be secured for the British population. As these post‐war benefits began to be distributed, an increasingly inward looking society after the War became more determined to ensure that the boundaries of this Welfare State became tightly drawn. Thus the parties of West Indians and the isolated West Africans arriving in British seaports to seek their fortunes in a British economy marked with labour shortages were generally unwelcome. On the one hand, the post‐war Labour government was working strenuously to build a new partnership between London and the Colonial Empire which would secure Britain's future position in the world. Evidence of racial incidents, discrimination, and tension would lead to bad publicity in the Colonies. More black people arriving to compete for work and housing would undoubtedly create more tension. On the other hand, the presence of black students and trainees for short periods of study was encouraged. It was hoped that they would absorb British ideas and become disposed to favour the Western powers in their struggle against Communism. Any evidence that the British were hostile to the presence of black people would easily influence this carefully organized political education. Faced with all these conflicting interests the British government generally chose to do nothing. It refused to introduce legislation to restrict immigration from the Colonies. At the same time it declined to bring in means that would outlaw discriminatory practices or break down prejudice largely on the grounds that such legislation might draw attention to one section of the population. There was little attempt to see that the minorities had special needs which required sympathetic treatment. Time, they hoped, would gradually resolve their dilemma. As war weariness receded and employment became more settled the strong hope was that the influx of black immigrants would lessen, and those who were already in this country would again be forgotten or hidden from history.