• Source:JND
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A tweet by Lucy White, a public policy specialist from the University of Cambridge, has ignited a fierce online backlash after she claimed that most of the staff at London’s Heathrow Airport were of Indian or Asian descent and “not speaking a word of English.”

Posting on X, White wrote, "Just landed in London Heathrow. The majority of staff are Indian/Asian & do not speak a word of English. I said to them, 'Speak English.' Their reply, 'You’re being racist.' They know I’m right, so they have to use the race card. Deport them all. Why are they working at the first point of entry to the UK?! What must tourists think…"

The post quickly went viral and stirred intense debate online, with many users condemning her remarks as racist and unfounded. Reacting to the post, one user replied, "So they told you correctly, in English, that you’re being racist?" Another noted, "Most tourists are staying away from the rape capital of the world," pointing to wider criticism of the UK, while others challenged the very premise of White's claim.

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'Completely Fabricated'

"Why is it racist to speak a common language? The concept of racism is as artificial as the concept of race," one comment read. Another user refuted her claims entirely: "This is completely fabricated. Yes, a lot of staff at Heathrow are of Asian descent, that’s partly because of where it is situated. They all speak English. All of them. Quit making stuff up. BTW, they’re incredibly helpful and friendly too. Unlike you."

In another tweet, White doubled down on her views, stating, "Every single hotel or landlord that agrees to house illegal migrants (at the expense of the taxpayer) is a traitor."

The controversy comes at a time when discussions around immigration, integration, and racism remain heated in the UK and other Western nations. Her tweet has also renewed focus on the demographics of immigration, particularly the rise in Indian-origin populations in the West.

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According to a recent report by the Pew Research Center, the Indian-origin population in the United States reached approximately 5.2 million in 2023. Indian Americans now represent about 21 per cent of the total Asian population in the US, highlighting decades of migration and consistent growth. The same trend is reflected in parts of the UK, especially in metropolitan hubs like London, where multicultural workforces are the norm. White’s remarks have been widely condemned as divisive and misrepresentative.