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On the 5th December 2016, Dame Louise Casey published a review commissioned by the then Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May. The premise of this review was to examine integration and cohesion within British society, and to look at the issues arising from recent patterns of migration and settlement in the UK. It provided an interesting backdrop to the “Brexit” vote in June earlier in the year, something noted in the review. Dame Casey acknowledged the difficulty in the task she undertook, particularly concerning certain minority groups. She felt that these issues needed to be faced head on to challenge the rhetoric of far-right nationalists and Islamic extremists, both of whom preyed on the divisions that exist within British society and the “fraying fabric of our union” (Casey, 2016, p. 6).
The review presented analysis of existing research and anecdotal evidence from interviews of people from different communities. It showed that difficulties still exist for various migrant communities, in terms of socio-economic and educational opportunities, gender equality, and areas of settlement. As such, not much had changed since previous Government enquiries and reports on social cohesion, and race riots at the end and turn of the last century. What added to the mix was the analysis of the impact of European Union migration and non-secular ideology. The review's recommendations suggested increased investment in areas impacted by high migration. Integration can be improved by changing public policy in areas such as housing and education; placing a heavy emphasis on teaching English; and instilling British values within migrant communities.
There was a mixed reception to the review with some members of the British Muslim community being quite critical. They felt that the findings and analysis focused too heavily on their community. Their feeling that the examination and critique of views of gender and sexuality inequality applied to their culture could