Forum Topic

For or against immigration ?

It would appear that Boris Johnson is the only politician to openly declare that he is for and not against immigration. Also he feels strongly that no immigrant should be able to draw social security benefits until they have contributed for two years. I think I agree in general with those two positions. What do others feel about immigration?

Gerry Tan ● 4408d27 Comments

Thankyou Jaz you help make my point for me. We had a perfectly good commonwealth which we seem to have partially sacrificed to replace it with countries with whom we have no real shared history,except in conflict that is. As for Empire, we still have some colonies, more than France I would wager.

Keith Iddon ● 4404d

Keith, poeple from the Commonwealth countries have NOT been allowed to come here for years, unless they have a work or study permit, which are really hard to get hold of, especially if you are from the Caribbean. Austrailians and New Zealanders find it easier. France still has an 'Empire.'Guadeloupe and Martinique for example are overseas regions of France and people communte between them with ease as they are French. Also look at Frances invovlement at the moment with the Congo and Sudan. Tell me what do we do for Jamaica,  St Lucia or Grenada?

Jaz Brown ● 4404d

Perhaps we should tell the PM - no referendum before the next election - NO VOTE!Maybe that would make him sit up and take notice?According to media reports Nu Labour don't trust the public to vote on this issue either so where does one go from here?

Jean F Fernandez ● 4404d

Total agreement on your first two paragraphs Nigel.

Graham Weeks ● 4406d

I would vote for Steve Pound any day and I say that as a lifelong (well, until this shambles of a government) Tory voter.He is simply a bloody good constituency MP (and a nice bloke as well fully supportive of countless community events).Sadly as the LibDems 'bottled it' on boundary changes - enough for them to lose my vote forever- I am stuck in Ealing Southall on the wrong (Hanwell) side of the Iron Bridge ever to have an effective representative.

Nigel Brooks ● 4406d

Yes Gerry. I believe you are wrong about an increased Cameron majority. IMO he is the worst Conservative leader since Heath. Like Heath he has misjudged the electorate. Heath did it over the miners. Cameron has alienated traditional Conservatives to, he thinks, win the LGBT vote. He will lose the election to Labour on the grounds that parties do not win elections, they lose them. I can even see myself voting for Steve Pound next time. ( Attracted as I am to UKIP, I think a vote for them will be a mere gesture.)

Graham Weeks ● 4406d

I wouldn't bet your life savings on that outcome, Gerry.

Susan Kelly ● 4406d

Ultimately people will vote for who will make them better off. But I agree Susan, the waters are muddied.

Keith Iddon ● 4406d

Mr Cameron will get in with a substantial working majority - he'll be in office for the forseeable future and then the Socialists will have a spell. That's my prediction, so there!I agree, its gonna be very interesting is the next General Election.

Gerry Tan ● 4406d

I think Tony is right about next year's election, though. It may be the most interesting one in living memory. People are sick of traditional 'party' politics. I wouldn't place a bet on the outcome and I like a bet.

Susan Kelly ● 4406d

I can't see anything like that happening Tony. Mass immigration has benefitted businessmen and the upper and middle classes( who often have private schooling and medical and can afford to buy housing) who can get a cheap nanny and a cheap plumber, to put it rather simplistically. The rest of us who have to get in line for services and such can fight it out amongst ourselves.

Keith Iddon ● 4407d

I recently met an Italian single mother. Asking what brought her here I was told the benefits are better and single motherhood is more acceptable here.

Graham Weeks ● 4407d

One thing that really angers me with immigration is that my sons who both live in Australia are not entitled to a British passport even though their father is British, when the government hand out passports left right and centre to people with no ties or loyalty to this country. The conservatives reduced the levels of immigration at the expense of the commonwealth which we have had stronger ties with for more years than the inception of the EU. We also cannot trade directly with any of the commonwealth countries due to the EU regulations.  The sooner we leave the EU the better off we will be. The Europeans that are here already I would like them to stay if they are employed and can support themselves fine but we don’t need people that take more than they give. Immigration is at the forefront of the everyday voter today. The next general elections will be very interesting. A client of mine who is a very strong Labour supporter suggested that neither labour nor the Tories will win enough seats, the Libdems will be behind UKIP so it will be left to them to form a coalition but they don’t agree with Labour and dislike the Tories so maybe a second election will take place.

Tony Maxey ● 4407d

Because we are an easier touch?

Keith Iddon ● 4407d

'if you are seeking asylum why pass through countless 'safe' states to get to the UK?'I agree, Nigel. I remember hearing a radio interview with two asylum seekers from Ivory Coast. An interpreter had to be provided as these women didn't speak English. They did, however, speak fluent French. By what madness do they come here and not to France or Belgium?

Susan Kelly ● 4407d

Btw Keith, I've changed the names of my good people, but you get my drift.

Gerry Tan ● 4407d

Like me Gerry you seem to have no problem with those who contribute and can support themselves.

Keith Iddon ● 4407d

"...Perhaps Gerry could elaborate on how he feels about the subject..."This is a very difficult topic, fraught with opposing and bitter opinions. I can only speak as I find - over the last few years in Ealing and west London I have experienced nothing but good(mostly) dealings with people with immigrant backgrounds. For example when I've gone to the chiropodist I'm served caringly by a Mr Gupta, at the pharmacy the efficient and polite Ms.Malik attends, at the opticians Messrs. Adebanjo or Banaszak sees to my needs, the GP at the health centre Dr. Wong signs my repeat perscriptions - he was the knowledgeable medic who put me in touch with the stroke consultants Mr.Lopez and Ms. Ivanovski, the physiotherapists who got me walking again were Australians with Greek type names, the ex-headteacher I play cards with is Dr. Banerjee and the postman is a Latvian gentleman, etc etc.  What I'm saying is that these good people were all immigrants or from immigrant parents. That can't be bad. I'm sure there are opposing examples of immigrant experiences, but that's what I find.

Gerry Tan ● 4407d

You will find also that a British worker quite often has a higher rent or a mortgage or a couple of kids to feed and clothe where a foreign worker will probably not. I dislike the inference that Brits are lazy and that east Europeans, for example, are all hard workers. The lazy ones have stayed in eastern Europe.

Keith Iddon ● 4407d

The problem with current immigration trends is that it keeps unskilled wages at the minimum wage. Without these migrants employers would have to either pay the British people the "Living Wage" or move abroad so as to keep paying poverty wages. It's a vicious circle. Government know this, so has to keep accusing the British of being workshy. It's not the jobs the British aren't willing to do, it's the wages they able to work for IE: put in 40 hours of manual work just to be no better or sometimes worse off after bills and rent have been paid. It is cheaper to put the migrants before our own in real terms to employers. But as usual, the British will just sit back and let the Migrants keep them out of work as always.Immigration has changed forever the way a lot of the home grown population have to live, and not for the best.

Leslie Bailey ● 4407d

It is a blot upon our history that we have made it harder for our allies in 20th century wars to come here while welcoming erstwhile enemies and others from Europe.

Graham Weeks ● 4407d

We also have a far bigger legacy than any other European country as regards to rights and responsibilities to the citizens of former colonies, now in the Commonwealth. I am not sure that the other European countries like France, Germany, Spain and Portugal though having much smaller empires, demonstrate the same degree of accommodation that we do.

Keith Iddon ● 4407d

We've avoided the bigots (so far) who blame everything from supermarket queues to the price of baked beans on immigration.We do have to get a grip on uncontrolled immigration. I will be the first in line to welcome those seeking asylum (with a genuine reason - not some spurious 'my uncle says he doesn't like me' excuse) and we do, with an aging population need economic migrants to grow the economy.I rail however at the illegals entrants who should simply be returned to their point of embarkation. These are not asylum seekers - if you are seeking asylum why pass through countless 'safe' states to get to the UK?C'mon Gerry, what's your own opinion?

Nigel Brooks ● 4407d

It's bound to Graham. Perhaps Gerry could elaborate on how he feels about the subject.

Keith Iddon ● 4407d

I  would never accuse Gerry of trolling, but I hope this does not bring forth outbursts from  'arty of Southall'.

Graham Weeks ● 4407d

The question is over simplistic imo. Anyone with a useful skill and/or funds to set themselves up in business and housing etc.and who has private health insurance would be an asset. Whilst we have a huge amount of youngsters unemployed( the 3rd highest rate in Europe)and also many others I can't see the sense, socially and economically, of importing others to do the low skill work they should be doing. Feeding the world is a great idea, but providing education, social and health care and housing for it is unrealistic.

Keith Iddon ● 4407d

Living in a crowded part of a small island I believe enough is enough and we should get out of the EU and take back control over immigration. Yes, contribute two years before benefiting from the state.

Graham Weeks ● 4407d