Prof Mukulika Banerjee of LSE warns that mainstreaming of racist politics poses a serious challenge, while urging Indian students to separate fact from fear.

In a wide-ranging interview on the Cine Ink Podcast, London Vārta: New World Order, Prof Mukulika Banerjee, a prominent anthropologist and long-time LSE academic, expressed deep concern over the growing influence of far-right politics in Britain and its potential impact on the country’s South Asian population.

She was in conversation with Pervaiz Alam.

Speaking from her extensive experience living in London, Professor Banerjee described a large far-right rally held in central London in May as particularly alarming. “Their message was clear,” she said: “the real citizens of the United Kingdom are the white English citizens. Everyone else — people who came from the Caribbean, Black communities, and all the South Asian communities — are outsiders. They are not British.”

The rally also featured explicit Islamophobic messaging, which she noted would have been almost unthinkable in terms of prominence and media coverage just five years ago.

Prof Banerjee pointed to two major drivers behind the current political fragmentation. On the right, domestic issues — particularly the cost-of-living crisis, pressures on the NHS, and youth unemployment — have led to immigrants being scapegoated. “When people can’t find jobs and prices are rising, they need someone to blame,” she observed. The narrative promoted is that sending “outsiders” back would restore jobs and services.

On the left, she highlighted how the UK government’s continued military support for Israel amid the Gaza conflict has deeply angered traditional Labour supporters. Many European countries have condemned Israel’s actions as genocide and distanced themselves, but the UK has not. “This has made many traditional Labour voters furious that their tax money is being used to support Israel in what they see as a genocide,” she said, drawing from her own experience canvassing in the last election.

She noted that criticising Israeli government actions is often immediately labelled antisemitic, making constructive debate increasingly difficult and contributing to a splintering on the left.

With roughly five million people of South Asian origin living in the UK — including around two million of Indian heritage — Professor Banerjee acknowledged a palpable nervousness in parts of the diaspora, particularly following high-profile far-right demonstrations in London

While she does not believe widespread panic has set in, she admitted feeling personally uneasy for the first time in thirty years about entering central London during one such event.

She warned against complacency within sections of the Hindu community who believe they might be spared because the current anger is primarily directed at Muslims. “Racism is racism,” she cautioned. “If you are brown or Black, they are not going to stop and check whether you are Muslim or Hindu.”

She stressed that the diaspora must unite across traditional political and religious lines, noting historical divisions where working-class South Asians supported Labour while more prosperous sections, particularly Gujarati and East African Hindus, have leaned towards the Conservatives.

On the specific question of Indian students considering study in the UK, Prof Banerjee was reassuring on matters of safety and academic quality.

“These rumours being spread about London — that crime has increased dramatically and women’s safety is terrible — are completely false,” she said. “London remains one of the safest major cities in the world.”

Having raised her own daughter in London, she emphasised that campus safety is strong and academic freedom at institutions like the LSE remains fully intact — in contrast to the situation in the United States. With around 75% international students at the LSE, the university offers valuable exposure and personal growth.

However, she offered a note of caution on the practical side: “The market has been flooded with agents who tell students ‘Come over, pay the fees, and you’ll get a job.’ But jobs are not easily available.” Many international students end up in low-paid gig economy roles such as Uber or delivery driving. The post-study work visa has been reduced to 18 months, with higher minimum salary thresholds making it harder to transition to long-term employment.

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