One third of whites claim they are victims of racism

Almost one in three - 29 per cent - said they now expected to be treated worse than other races by key public services.

And the number of whites claiming to have been refused a job or discriminated against at work for reasons of race has doubled in the last five years, according to the Government study. 

Flashback: Riots in Burnley, Lancs, 2001 when whites and Asians clashed. Many white residents claimed Asians were favoured by the authorities

Seven per cent believed they had failed to win a promotion because of their race, up from three per cent in 2003.

Three per cent alleged they had been turned down for a job for the same reason, up from one per cent.

In addition, the study reveals that most ethnic minorities living in Britain feel stronger ties to the nation than whites.

One in six white Britons feel only a slight sense of belonging to the nation.

Whites also now feel less able than other ethnic groups to influence decisions affecting their local area and the country as a whole. 

For example, 41 per cent of black African, 36 per cent of Bangladeshi and 35 per cent of Indian people feel they have a say in decisions affecting Britain, compared to 19 per cent of white people.

The survey of 15,000 people - ordered by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears - is likely to prompt a fierce debate about the disillusionment of the white majority.

The Tories blame Labour's race relations strategy.

Tory communities spokesman Baroness Warsi said: 'It's no wonder more people feel there is an increase in racism when Labour's multicultural industry is forever talking up what divides us rather than concentrating on what unites us.'

The research found that overall, whites are more likely than those from ethnic minorities to believe that racial prejudice and discrimination is getting worse.

Fifty-eight per cent said they believe there was more racial prejudice now than five years ago, compared to 44 per cent who were interviewed in 2001.

The figure for ethnic minority communities has hardly changed, at 32 per cent.

The survey found that 29 per cent of white people expect to be treated worse than other groups by at least one of eight public services, including the police, prisons, courts, Crown Prosecution service, probation service, local housing organisations, schools or GPs.

Whites identified council housing departments or housing associations as the most likely to discriminate against them.

The proportion of members of ethnic minority groups who expected to face discrimination from one of the eight bodies fell from 38 per cent in 2001 to 34 per cent.

But it remains higher than for white people in many categories, particularly the police.

Tory MP Greg Hands, a member of the Commons communities and local government select committee, said: 'It's a dangerous phenomenon if any part of the population feels they are being systematically discriminated against.'

Overall, 84 per cent of people felt they belonged strongly to the country, including 45 per cent who said they belonged very strongly.

However, nine out of ten Pakistani and Indian people said they felt a strong sense of belonging, compared to 84 per cent of whites.