Ruth,

If he was talking only about the influx of Irish and Welsh and Scots, would it be racist then?

I think not. I think it might be some sort of cultural chauvinism, but not racism. And since he is talking about keeping the "nations" of the UK separate, then can you really clearly say that it is purely racism.

By the way this is the definition of racism I use. The issues of wage competition seem tangental to it.

racism


Main Entry:
rac·ism
Pronunciation:
\ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\
Function:
noun
Date:
1933
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
— rac·ist \-sist also -shist\ noun or adjective