John Cleese, racist?

John Cleese recently twited the following:

'Some years ago I opined that London was not really an English city any more

Since then, virtually all my friends from abroad have confirmed my observation

So there must be some truth in it...

I note also that London was the UK city that voted most strongly to remain in the EU'

https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1133604249693110272

Is this tweet a statement of fact, or the opinion of a racist as the msm and other famous comedians such as Dom Joly have stated?

If it is racist, why is it racist?

The truth according to the last census, is that London is now a city where white English are the minority and are becoming increasingly a minority.
Not that that is a bad thing, but it is a fact.

[i]One of the reasons I cannot stand twatter...it's a cesspool of arguments and hate.[/i]

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uniglow · 36-40, M

I guess we'd have to know more about what drove his opinion. It's easy to look at people who have some elements of non-English culture and say they are not English. I work with someone who wears a hijab but she has the same accent as me, eats the same food as me, watches the same films. She is culturally English but with an ancestry that is varied (like all of us if we go back far enough). I don't see a whole lot of difference it makes what date you got to this country.

What I would say in Cleese's case is that he has lived abroad and references other people living abroad who probably only visit London periodically. In their cases, they are bound to notice changes more keenly than someone who lives there.

Listening to some of his opinion in debates, I'd be very surprised if he did hold racist views. I suspect he just pines for a different England, and that immigration was not really what was on his mind, as opposed to prevailing attitudes (held by all).

D1senfranchised · 46-50, M

@uniglow I think one difference is your work colleague probably grew up in England which as you pointed out makes her culturally as English as anyone else.

I think his comment alludes to people whom have migrated here since the Labour parties new migration policies beginning around the late 90's and who's first language is not English.

uniglow · 36-40, M

@D1senfranchised She did, yes. Her parents moved here as young adults. To the disappointment of her family, English is the only language she speaks.