I totally agree with you, luhe, that the British public are not one monothlithic block. In fact a sort of multiculturalism has always existed in Britain - for example Welsh, Irish, Scots and English which begs the question - what is Britishness/british culture. Indeed present day research shows that ethnic minorities identify most closely with Britishness than those who consider themselves white, or chinese or afro carribean.
here is an interesting stat
In Britain 83% of muslims say they are proud to be British against 79% of the general public