Between 7 -11 May ICM Research interviewed 1,576 people aged 18 and over.

The interviews were conducted face-to-face and quotas were used to ensure that at least 500 interviews were conducted with people from white, black and Asian backgrounds.

This important survey provides valuable insights into the state of multi-cultural Britain. Read our analysis here

The large number of people from different ethnic groups used in the poll makes it one of the most robust carried out on the issue of race in recent years.

The data collected was then weighted to bring it into a balance with a national profile of all adults. The margin of error for the poll is plus or minus 3%.

However this margin increases when the answers are based on smaller groups within the total sample. For example when just Asian people are mentioned or when other individual groups are extracted from the total number of people asked.