Ed Miliband’s Integration Speech - Speech on unity and diversity in Britain - 14 December 2012

Oct 5, 2026

Ed Miliband’s Integration Speech (14 December 2012) argues that Britain’s strength comes from unity alongside diversity, using the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a central example. He highlights multi-ethnic participation, shared pride in athletes with international family backgrounds, and the national lesson of togetherness. Miliband links this to immigration and sanctuary, describing how refugees and globally connected communities have built new lives, while acknowledging ongoing anxieties about immigration, employment exploitation, benefits, and the pace of change.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Ed Miliband’s Integration Speech

Unity and diversity through the Olympics

Immigration, refugees, and Britain’s global identity

Challenges: anxiety about immigration and economic concerns

Ed Miliband’s Integration Speech Published 14 December 2012 Can I start by saying I am delighted to be here with you in Tooting today. Tooting is a fantastic part of London. And it is great to be here with my friend, the Member of Parliament, Sadiq Khan. It is somewhere where people of all different backgrounds, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and those of no faith, live and work together. A place where people don’t just tolerate each other, but build friendships, families and businesses across communities. That’s the kind of country we want to build. And that’s why I have come to Tooting today. This year, 2012, will always be remembered as the year of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Memories of those Games are going to last a very long time. Everyone will talk about the medals, the crowds, the volunteers, a nation sharing in the excitement. But there is a lesson that stands out. And we cannot leave this year without pausing to think about it. It is about our unity as a country and our diversity. The Games came to Britain because of the vibrant, generous-spirited, multi-ethnic, diverse city we presented in the London bid. And when the medals came in, the world saw the same of our nation. I will never forget the privilege of being in the Olympic Park. Dancing to the Spice Girls with David Cameron and Boris Johnson at the Closing Ceremony is definitely etched on my memory. But it was an even bigger privilege to see Mo Farah win the first of his gold medals. If anything was a defining moment of the Olympics, amidst so many defining moments, it was Mo Farah’s victories. And wasn’t that an amazing interview when he was asked: “Wouldn’t you rather be running for Somalia?” And he replied “This is my country mate”. That’s why I will be voting for him for Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday. And we all took equal pride in the achievements of all our athletes, from Mo Farah to Jessica Ennis, to Zara Philips, the granddaughter of the Queen. And we know: one third of Team GB medal winners had parents or grandparents born outside this country. And their diversity was reflected in the crowds that cheered them on. In fact, the whole Olympic experience reflected the diversity of modern Britain. So it was an immense achievement for our country and it reflects a crucial reality about our nation today. Social, cultural and ethnic diversity has made us stronger. And it’s not just the Olympics and Paralympics that make me think that. For generations, new people have arrived in Britain, often seeking sanctuary from oppression, and have worked hard to build a new life. And they have contributed enormously to the country. I say this as the child of immigrants. I wouldn’t be standing here if it hadn’t been for the generosity of Britain. My parents came here as refugees from the terrors ofthe Nazis. And they made a life for themselves. And therefore I owe my life to this country. I went to a comprehensive school where today there are young people whose families come from over 60 countries, with 50 different languages spoken. It is part ofthe success story of London: a truly global city. I love the diversity of London. A city to which people from all over the world have come for thousands of years. And it’s true of our country as a whole. A quarter of Britain’s Nobel Prize winners were born overseas. Our NHS is staffed by nurses from all over the world. So we are a multi-ethnic, diverse Britain. Increasingly so. As this week’s census, published on Tuesday, showed. And let’s recognise the way the British people have embraced this diversity. Because frankly we’ve had our fair share of doomsayers in Britain over the years. From Oswald Moseley in the 1930s, Enoch Powell in the 1960s to Nick Griffin today. Those who said it wasn’t possible for us to get along. But what’s actually happened since the Second World War? Despite our national troubles--fro

FAQs

What message does Miliband draw from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games?

He says the Games reflect both the unity and the multi-ethnic diversity of modern Britain, showing that people can live and work together across different communities.

How does Miliband connect integration to immigration and refugees?

He describes his family’s history as refugees from Nazi terror and argues that immigrants have built lives and contributed strongly to the country, including through education and public services.

What challenges does Miliband say Britain still needs to face regarding immigration?

He acknowledges profound anxiety about immigration, including economic worries, exploitation by unscrupulous employers, concerns about spending within communities such as benefits, and the speed of change.

Oct 5, 2026

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