Ethnic Poverty and Inequality in the UKAn ethnic group is a category of people (in social terms) who have a common culture, language, religion and norms and values. In Britain the main ethnicity is white, however over the last 50 years Britain has become culturally diverse and now has a mix of different ethnic groups (sociologyencyclopedia 2009). More than half of people living in low-income households in London are from ethnic minorities. This is a result of the high proportion of ethnic minority people in London who are on a low income combined with the high proportion of London's total population who are ethnic minorities. Statistics show that black or minority ethnic (BME) only 20% of the white population live in poverty, while people from ethnic backgrounds show much higher numbers. 30% for Indians and Caribbean blacks, 50% for African blacks, 60% for Pakistanis, 70% for Bangladeshis. The proportion of BME in low-income households declined in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but has increased since then (Browne, K. et al 2009). It should be noted that the percentage of ethnic people in poverty between 2008 and 2009 was lower than a decade earlier, however the decline was not large enough to make a significant difference. The effect of this is felt especially by single mothers, pensioners, children and refugees who Murray (1994) defines as a new “underclass”. Statistics collected by the JRF show that over half of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and black African children in the UK grow up in poverty, with a staggering 70% of Bangladeshi children growing up poor (Davies, Hugh; Joshi, Heather 1998). Most of these immigrants came to Britain to find work, however the statistics...... middle of paper...... Last accessed 26/3/14.J, Rennings. (2010). Key terms. Available: http://www.sociology.org.uk/sc_shop_pdf/sc_AS4AQA_WPW_e.pdf. Last accessed 10/3/14.http://www.social-policy.org.uk/lincoln/WarburtonBrown.pdfN/A. (2008). Inequalities pay. Available: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sociology/research/publications/papers/walby-weupayandproductivity.pdf. Last accessessex. (2009). Segregation. Available: 22/3/14. https://www.essex.ac.uk/sociology/documents/pdf/graduate_journal/10-11/perales_perez_occupational_sex_segregation.pdf. Last accessed 24/3/14.Browne, K. et al (2009)Sociology for A2 AQADavies, Hugh; Joshi, Heather (1998). "Gender and income inequality in the UK 1968-1990: the feminisation of earnings or poverty?" Journal of the Royal Statistical Society161: 33–61. Women and Poverty in Britain by Caroline Glendinning, Jane Millar (hardcover, 1987)