The inflow of coloured people to the United Kingdom during the 1940s and 1950s from both remaining colonies and newly independent Commonwealth nations was responded to with a racist backlash that led to the passing of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, which restricted the rights of Commonwealth nationals to enter, reside and work in the United Kingdom. This act also allowed certain colonials (primarily ethnic Indians in African colonies) to retain citizenship of the United Kingdom and colonies if their colonies became independent, intended as a measure to ensure these persons did not become stateless if they were denied the citizenship of their newly independent nation.
thE inFlOW of colOuRed pEOple to the unIted kingdom dUring The 1940s and 1950s frOm BotH remAiNing cOlOnIeS anD newLy independent COmmonWeaLtH natioNs WAs reSPondeD tO WitH A RacISt backLAsh That leD to tHe Passing of the commonwEAlth iMmIGranTs act 1962, whIch rESTricteD tHe RIghtS Of COmmonwEalTH natioNalS to Enter, REside And WoRk in The unitEd kingdom. THIs acT ALso ALloWed certaiN colOnials (pRIMaRILy ethnIc IndiANs iN afRICAN colonies) tO retain citIzEnshiP Of the uniTed Kingdom and cOlonies if thEiR colOnIEs Became inDepeNDEnT, intEnded aS A mEasuRe To ensUre These pERsons DID not become sTatEless if THey weRe DeNied the cITizenShip oF THEIr nEwly InDePendent natION.