New study finds pockets of deprivation in specific ethnic groups in Oxford

A new study by researchers at Queen’s University Belfast has exposed sharp inequalities between different ethnic groups in Oxford

The research explored 2021 Census data from across England and Wales, finding many local areas where one ethnic group was experiencing much greater economic hardship than others. Green Councillor Chris Jarvis spoke to reporters from the Guardian and the QUB researchers to explore the problem in St Mary’s ward. The researchers found that those in the area who identified as ‘Other Asian’ on the Census scored just a 1 out of 10 on their Ethnic Group Deprivation Index, suffering from housing and education deprivation. Other local constituents described groups of East Timorese people working insecure jobs with poor access to housing in the area.

This kind of research is an invaluable tool for Councillors and campaigners to go beyond the big picture and better understand constituents and voters. Groups like this would be lost in overall statistics about the ward, where the white British majority is relatively well off.