Forgotten white communities in multiracial inner cities feel policy makers do not give them a fair deal, according to new research.

The study found white working class families in Birmingham, Coventry and London complained politicians ignored them.

To help redress the balance, the Joseph Roundtree Foundation urges the government to:

• Make the sharing of community resources like housing and grants more transparent to challenge any perceived unfairness

• Encourage more community events like festivals

• Coordinate local groups to communicate more with each other

At the same time, the report, Community cohesion: the views of white working-class communities [LINK: http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/working-class-views-neighbourhood ] suggests better results will come from not singling out white communities for extra help.

The report explains that white communities feel left out of planning and are ‘last in line’ for resources, with allegations of unfair treatment include offering other communities preferential treatment for social housing.

They also felt let down about promises to improve their communities that failed to materialise.

Report author Harris Beider said: “The way that people from working class white backgrounds are portrayed is often negative, which doesn’t reflect the reality of the pride most hold in their community, nor their strong work ethic, and collective values.

“It is important to confound the negative stereotypes and understand that people in these communities feel their voices are not listened to, and that they have no stake in their community. They want to be valued, heard and connected to government.”

The findings also highlighted that white inner city communities have a strong sense of identity that is not extremist but comes from pride in their neighbourhoods.

JRF chief executive,Julia Unwin said: “We know there are real concerns that many people in traditional white working-class areas are becoming increasingly disconnected with the political system and feel their views, experiences and interests are ignored by policy makers.

“This research highlights the real potential we have to grasp opportunities to engage with and support many of those who feel let down and ‘last in line’.”