With a general election on the horizon we are expecting the main political parties to garner the support of the Asian community.

Traditionally, the Labour Party has been the party for Asians but support that was once taken for granted has waned.

Yes, the Labour party still holds sway within many inner city areas but we are now seeing the rise of the right-wing Asian.

The right-wing Asian is seen as someone who no longer feels he or she is in any way indebted to others in his community.

In fact he or she is someone who actually boasts feelings of resentment towards those Asians that continue to ‘embarrass’ the community. It is a feature that is being repeated across the country.

Shafiq Rehman, aged 43 says this is not about hating ones’ community but ensuring we don’t become obsessed with victim culture: “I am as Asian as the next person and my dad worked hard in the factories to provide for us.”

Shafiq lives in a detached house, has a good job and visits his local mosque like everyone else.

“What I see around me are people who want things handed to them on a plate. I voted Labour in the past but in the last election I voted Conservative.

“That does not make me right-wing. I just don’t think Labour or the Lib Dems appeal to me anymore.

“Things have moved on for many in the Asian community. During the Blair years I was wholeheartedly behind the government as it cracked down on these preachers. I would have gone further.

“They are the reason we are so backward. Most of the moulvis have no common sense and preach cultural norms to people rather than any ideals."

Faisel Waleed, a 55 year-old cab driver says ‘many Asians hold right-wing views’ like him: “I still live in the terraced house I was brought-up in. When we moved in, there used to be a lot of white families and things were mixed.

“Now, I live opposite a mosque. I can’t park outside my own house, there is litter everywhere and the area is almost all Asian.

“The Asians have made my area worse. The mosque has made my area worse not better. I want to move out but can’t afford too.

“We transport the same habits from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and expect them to work here.

“Don’t talk to me about equality and unemployment. This is all rubbish. I know people who live on my street who can work but simply don’t want to because it is easier to stay at home and take off the system.

“The worse thing, what some of these religious-types do is pretend to be single parent families to claim more.

“Then as soon as they find a shop serving ‘haram’ chicken they go running to tell the world.”

If some of these comments were attributed to a non-Asian they may well be deemed ‘extreme’ in nature.

Despite this Faisel remains a Labour supporter: “I will vote Labour again but are you telling me you can’t have these views and be a Labour supporter?

“I know many people who agree with me.”

Despite their own parents being immigrants once they don't feel the same affinity with other new arrivals.

Shafiq adds, “As Asians we are expected in some way to support our community but why should we? I remember when I was a kid there was more of a unified nature between many Asians.

"The new people arriving and I don't care which country they are from don't have that same work ethic"

Shafiq speaks of a time when the Asian community had a common aim of betterment and few could claim to be middle-class.

“Now, many of my friends are more affluent. The time when our fathers struggled to make ends meet has gone.

“I know Hindu’s and Sikhs who are not like us. Why do they get called Asians when it isn’t their fault!”

Rabia Patel owns her own business said, “I agree that we have become too obsessed with blaming others for our failures.

“I have been in business for twenty years and I hate dealing with other Asians. They make my life hell. Does this make me racist or a realist?”

Negative news about Muslims remain in the news almost daily and this does not bode well for those of other religions.

One man who did no wish to be named says it is wrong for everyone to be banded into one group: “Why can’t we say it like it is? This is a Muslim problem and not a Hindu and Sikh one.

“I support our Asian community but does it work the other way around? No it does not. It is all one way.

“Some communities are more affluent than others. I know people might not agree with this but let us just say it like it is for a change.

“I know you will never print this in your newspaper.

“That is why you will find more of us actually agreeing with a lot of what is written in the right-wing press.”

Gulfraz Hussain says he has friends who come out with more racist views than the EDL (English Defence League).

“You sit amongst some well-to-do Asians and some of them say a lot of racist things towards their own community. If they were white they would be locked up.

“In public they won’t share these views but you have Asians now who think they shouldn’t have to keep defending other Asians all the time.

“They want to take their kids to schools where there are fewer Asians. They want to live away from other Asians and want to do ‘British things’ to make themselves seem posh.

“At the same time they want to keep a part of their culture and religion as that makes them ‘complete’.”