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Post by partickpotter on Nov 25, 2021 7:06:06 GMT
Language, strong communities particularly in big cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester offering more support/opportunities. Plus you don’t hear about the tens of thousands that decide to stay in France or not even get as far as that……. Can you elaborate on support / opportunities, and language? , and do you think as you’ve said tens of thousands stay there, if we were joined to France by just a border and not the sea those tens of thousands wouldn’t just try to get in the U.K. , I find it hard to understand why parents would risk their children’s lives and their own by crossing the channel in November when hand on heart there’s nothing wrong with France as it’s already a multi cultural European country I suspect they have no real idea of the dangers they face, and by the time they do, they are in the control of the people smugglers who don’t give them a lot of choice and who couldn’t give a shit what happens to them once they are on the boat.
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Post by heworksardtho on Nov 25, 2021 7:32:58 GMT
Can you elaborate on support / opportunities, and language? , and do you think as you’ve said tens of thousands stay there, if we were joined to France by just a border and not the sea those tens of thousands wouldn’t just try to get in the U.K. , I find it hard to understand why parents would risk their children’s lives and their own by crossing the channel in November when hand on heart there’s nothing wrong with France as it’s already a multi cultural European country I suspect they have no real idea of the dangers they face, and by the time they do, they are in the control of the people smugglers who don’t give them a lot of choice and who couldn’t give a shit what happens to them once they are on the boat. It’s very sad indeed , the ppl smugglers need to be hunted down and arrested for causing so much misery
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Post by prestwichpotter on Nov 25, 2021 7:39:22 GMT
Language, strong communities particularly in big cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester offering more support/opportunities. Plus you don’t hear about the tens of thousands that decide to stay in France or not even get as far as that……. So, not a racist hell hole then? Was that addressed to me for a specific reason?
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Post by prestwichpotter on Nov 25, 2021 7:46:02 GMT
Language, strong communities particularly in big cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester offering more support/opportunities. Plus you don’t hear about the tens of thousands that decide to stay in France or not even get as far as that……. Can you elaborate on support / opportunities, and language? , and do you think as you’ve said tens of thousands stay there, if we were joined to France by just a border and not the sea those tens of thousands wouldn’t just try to get in the U.K. , I find it hard to understand why parents would risk their children’s lives and their own by crossing the channel in November when hand on heart there’s nothing wrong with France as it’s already a multi cultural European country English is a far more common and spoken language, places like London have communities of people from countries all over the world who help and support one another. If someone was seeking asylum from French speaking Cameroon for example I suspect they would head straight for Paris or Lyon. And I know you find it hard, so do I. But we’ve never left a war torn country in search of a better life. And also do you honestly think some of them know what they’re getting into in France, these professional criminals coerce, bully and lie to these people all for a few quid. There is no real legitimate path to asylum in the UK, you can’t just rock up to Kabul airport with no passport and say “Two one way tickets to Gatwick please?”
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Post by dutchstokie on Nov 25, 2021 7:53:42 GMT
Can you elaborate on support / opportunities, and language? , and do you think as you’ve said tens of thousands stay there, if we were joined to France by just a border and not the sea those tens of thousands wouldn’t just try to get in the U.K. , I find it hard to understand why parents would risk their children’s lives and their own by crossing the channel in November when hand on heart there’s nothing wrong with France as it’s already a multi cultural European country I suspect they have no real idea of the dangers they face, and by the time they do, they are in the control of the people smugglers who don’t give them a lot of choice and who couldn’t give a shit what happens to them once they are on the boat. Some migrants over here in NL are paying thousands just to get to here, Belgium and France. 2 new detention centres have been set up here in Ter Apel and Zwolle and families were interviewed last night and broadcast over here. Theyre then passed to another gang who demand more Which begs the question - how are they affording it? ANd if they have substantial funds, why not just set up home in Germany or Italy or the like? Paying the ultimate sacrifice of losing family members and worse still the children is just madness and also hearbreaking I reckon
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Post by Northy on Nov 25, 2021 8:14:55 GMT
Can you elaborate on support / opportunities, and language? , and do you think as you’ve said tens of thousands stay there, if we were joined to France by just a border and not the sea those tens of thousands wouldn’t just try to get in the U.K. , I find it hard to understand why parents would risk their children’s lives and their own by crossing the channel in November when hand on heart there’s nothing wrong with France as it’s already a multi cultural European country English is a far more common and spoken language, places like London have communities of people from countries all over the world who help and support one another. If someone was seeking asylum from French speaking Cameroon for example I suspect they would head straight for Paris or Lyon. And I know you find it hard, so do I. But we’ve never left a war torn country in search of a better life. And also do you honestly think some of them know what they’re getting into in France, these professional criminals coerce, bully and lie to these people all for a few quid. There is no real legitimate path to asylum in the UK, you can’t just rock up to Kabul airport with no passport and say “Two one way tickets to Gatwick please?” Lots of them aren't from war torn countries are they?
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Post by iancransonsknees on Nov 25, 2021 8:23:14 GMT
English is a far more common and spoken language, places like London have communities of people from countries all over the world who help and support one another. If someone was seeking asylum from French speaking Cameroon for example I suspect they would head straight for Paris or Lyon. And I know you find it hard, so do I. But we’ve never left a war torn country in search of a better life. And also do you honestly think some of them know what they’re getting into in France, these professional criminals coerce, bully and lie to these people all for a few quid. There is no real legitimate path to asylum in the UK, you can’t just rock up to Kabul airport with no passport and say “Two one way tickets to Gatwick please?” Lots of them aren't from war torn countries are they? It's been stated by numerous people on this thread more than once that they're economic migrants as well as asylum seekers. When the questions get more pointed this tends to disappear from the response.
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Post by prestwichpotter on Nov 25, 2021 8:58:55 GMT
Lots of them aren't from war torn countries are they? It's been stated by numerous people on this thread more than once that they're economic migrants as well as asylum seekers. When the questions get more pointed this tends to disappear from the response. Slight correction then, war torn countries or those where human rights abuses are common. And it's not all, but most. There are others coming from places like Albania and Turkey. " Using Home Office statistics and data obtained through freedom of information laws, the charity (Refugee crisis) said it found that between January 2020 and June this year, 91 per cent of migrants came from 10 countries where human rights abuses and persecution are common – including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Eritrea and Yemen." (from the BBC website)
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Post by mrcoke on Nov 25, 2021 10:14:37 GMT
The 2016 Immigration Act was aimed specifically at illegal immigration, and in particular preventing illegal immigrants accessing public services, jobs, housing etc. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/19/contents/enactedwww.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-bill-2015-16The immigration issue at the 2019 GE was: 1. Getting Brexit done, which both main parties said they would do, which would stop freedom of movement where EU citizens can access British jobs, and 2. the Tory manifesto said they would introduce an Australian-style points-based system to control immigration. The graph in the link in your post show a sharp rise in immigration as the UK left the EU as many Europeans wanted to settle in the UK and there were a great number of British nationals returned to the UK (or did not leave) at the start of the pandemic. A high proportion of the Europeans that came to the UK just before Brexit were dependants of workers already in the UK. At the time of the referendum there were thought to be 3.5 million EU citizens in the UK. The government this year has processed over 5.5 million of the 6 million applications for settlement received. www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-june-2021/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-june-2021Clearly there was a huge rush of EU citizens settling in the UK before Brexit took place. Who can blame them? This is a great country. Incidentally, you keep posting reference to the Office For Budget Responsibility Report which gives its projection on the loss of UK GDP due to leaving the EU. Part of that loss of GDP is deemed to have already occurred due to the reduction in investment in the years after the referendum before the pandemic, which was largely due to those persons objecting to the result of the referendum and trying to reverse it. (Politicians, Lords, Speaker, former PMs, etc.) No account is included for the massive surge in investment in the UK this year post Brexit. There are other factors that will lead to loss of GDP such as difficulties exporting to the EU, and EU choosing to source from other EU sources rather than the UK - based on guestimates from opinion surveys. No account is taken for any increase in GDP due to the UK establishing better trade links with the rest of the world. But, interestingly, one of the main reasons that the OBR give for loss of GDP is loss of freedom of movement and " reduced population growth" as a result of Brexit due to less immigration from freedom of movement. To conclude, I personally am fully in favour of immigration.
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Post by thevoid on Nov 25, 2021 10:21:47 GMT
So, not a racist hell hole then? Was that addressed to me for a specific reason? Well I couldn't exactly make the point any other way as I was referencing factors you highlighted. Why so defensive and uptight?
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Post by prestwichpotter on Nov 25, 2021 10:30:52 GMT
Was that addressed to me for a specific reason? Well I couldn't exactly make the point any other way as I was referencing factors you highlighted. Why so defensive and uptight? Not defensive or uptight in the slightest, I've never suggested that this country is a "racist hell hole" so wondered why you would direct that question to me and not sure how that references factors I've highlighted.......
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Post by phileetin on Nov 25, 2021 10:38:40 GMT
the only way this will stop is if benefits paid to migrants arriving from safe havens like france are reduced to levels equal to or less than that country .
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Post by prestwichpotter on Nov 25, 2021 10:51:46 GMT
the only way this will stop is if benefits paid to migrants arriving from safe havens like france are reduced to levels equal to or less than that country . In the UK they get £39 a week, in France they get 47.6 Euros (equivalent to £40.10 at todays exchange rate).....
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Post by OldStokie on Nov 25, 2021 11:49:24 GMT
They're sold a dud before they get here. From my understanding, those landing on our shores have to spend at least a year in detention centres while their applications are processed. And from what I can gather, those detention centres are a shithole to live in.
One other thing. These poor souls in that boat drown, and almost immediately, 4 people smugglers are arrested. If it's so easy to find them after the event, then why aren't they being rounded up before catastrophies like this happen? The French have a lot to answer for as far as stopping this people smuggling happening.
OS.
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Post by phileetin on Nov 25, 2021 11:54:33 GMT
the only way this will stop is if benefits paid to migrants arriving from safe havens like france are reduced to levels equal to or less than that country . In the UK they get £39 a week, in France they get 47.6 Euros (equivalent to £40.10 at todays exchange rate)..... but don't they get housing benefits , free medical care , access to food banks , access to child benefits eg education etc ?
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Post by prestwichpotter on Nov 25, 2021 12:00:37 GMT
In the UK they get £39 a week, in France they get 47.6 Euros (equivalent to £40.10 at todays exchange rate)..... but don't they get housing benefits , free medical care , access to food banks , access to child benefits eg education etc ? Are you asking me or telling me? Or am I just doing all the heavy lifting here……
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Post by heworksardtho on Nov 25, 2021 12:32:01 GMT
Can you elaborate on support / opportunities, and language? , and do you think as you’ve said tens of thousands stay there, if we were joined to France by just a border and not the sea those tens of thousands wouldn’t just try to get in the U.K. , I find it hard to understand why parents would risk their children’s lives and their own by crossing the channel in November when hand on heart there’s nothing wrong with France as it’s already a multi cultural European country English is a far more common and spoken language, places like London have communities of people from countries all over the world who help and support one another. If someone was seeking asylum from French speaking Cameroon for example I suspect they would head straight for Paris or Lyon. And I know you find it hard, so do I. But we’ve never left a war torn country in search of a better life. And also do you honestly think some of them know what they’re getting into in France, these professional criminals coerce, bully and lie to these people all for a few quid. There is no real legitimate path to asylum in the UK, you can’t just rock up to Kabul airport with no passport and say “Two one way tickets to Gatwick please?” I’m not sure how many safe countries they have to cross to get to France and then the U.K. but if I was fleeing Afghan or Iraq etc with my kids I’d be happy to settle in the first safe country or European country, I still can’t get my head round killing your kids to get to the U.K. when there are far safer options
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Post by Huddysleftfoot on Nov 25, 2021 12:33:46 GMT
The removal of the safe passage by the Home Office has directly led to criminal activity rising.
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Post by mrcoke on Nov 25, 2021 12:42:20 GMT
They're sold a dud before they get here. From my understanding, those landing on our shores have to spend at least a year in detention centres while their applications are processed. And from what I can gather, those detention centres are a shithole to live in. One other thing. These poor souls in that boat drown, and almost immediately, 4 people smugglers are arrested. If it's so easy to find them after the event, then why aren't they being rounded up before catastrophies like this happen? The French have a lot to answer for as far as stopping this people smuggling happening. OS. I fully agree with you. I guess a lot of them faced with a winter in a detention centre, will take their lives in their hands and risk crossing to get to the UK where they will get to live in a hostel or even a hotel till their case is sorted. But the Guardian says refugees are treated to dehumanising treatment: www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/apr/23/asylum-seekers-treated-in-dehumanising-way-by-uk-host-hotelsThis report says they are no better off in the UK than anywhere else: www.amnesty.org.uk/truth-about-refugeesA church friend of mine visits a centre regularly with clothing, etc. He says they a pitiful with no clothes, illness/sores etc., malnutrition, unable to speak English. It makes me feel that once they get here we are obliged to look after them on humanitarian grounds.
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Post by phileetin on Nov 25, 2021 12:46:59 GMT
but don't they get housing benefits , free medical care , access to food banks , access to child benefits eg education etc ? Are you asking me or telling me? Or am I just doing all the heavy lifting here…… They don't survive on 39.00 a week so they have got to have other sources of income otherwise why come ?
The mayor of calais blamed uk benefits for the attraction so i guess he knows more about it than either of us but i guess i'm closer to the truth than you are .
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Post by prestwichpotter on Nov 25, 2021 12:51:58 GMT
Are you asking me or telling me? Or am I just doing all the heavy lifting here…… They don't survive on 39.00 a week so they have got to have other sources of income otherwise why come ?
The mayor of calais blamed uk benefits for the attraction so i guess he knows more about it than either of us but i guess i'm closer to the truth than you are .
They're allowed to work after 12 months, in Germany it's 3 and in France it's 6. The get housed often in purpose built facilities, often B&B's or hotels. They don't get child benefits although their allowance goes up slightly if part of a family (as it also does in France) They have access to medical care as they do in France, there is fundamental difference between the two countries in terms of what they receive. It doesn't take long to search........
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Post by thevoid on Nov 25, 2021 13:05:26 GMT
Well I couldn't exactly make the point any other way as I was referencing factors you highlighted. Why so defensive and uptight? Not defensive or uptight in the slightest, I've never suggested that this country is a "racist hell hole" so wondered why you would direct that question to me and not sure how that references factors I've highlighted....... I've never said you have, but it is something that other people have alluded to so I was using the things you listed as a counterpoint. If anything, I was agreeing with you.
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Post by prestwichpotter on Nov 25, 2021 13:32:14 GMT
Not defensive or uptight in the slightest, I've never suggested that this country is a "racist hell hole" so wondered why you would direct that question to me and not sure how that references factors I've highlighted....... I've never said you have, but it is something that other people have alluded to so I was using the things you listed as a counterpoint. If anything, I was agreeing with you. No dramas. For what it's worth I think most people are inherently decent. The charity I volunteer with in Greater Manchester was involved in housing a couple of families (one from Syria one from Afghanistan) recently. I did all the fetching and carrying, pulling in favours from friends and local businesses to get bedding, furniture, toy for the kids etc and it was heart warming to see how the local community rallied round (they are housed on relatively poor estates) despite not having a great deal themselves. And on the flipside they have settled in and feel part of the community despite still getting to grips with the language, weather etc. The problem with a big chunk of our media particularly is that it peddles false narratives which seek to divide us when we have lots in common. The enemy of a working class family shouldn't be an Afghan refugee who will probably start off delivering pizzas, cleaning, driving a cab or washing dishes in a restaurant........
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Post by Huddysleftfoot on Nov 25, 2021 13:40:25 GMT
I've never said you have, but it is something that other people have alluded to so I was using the things you listed as a counterpoint. If anything, I was agreeing with you. No dramas. For what it's worth I think most people are inherently decent. The charity I volunteer with in Greater Manchester was involved in housing a couple of families (one from Syria one from Afghanistan) recently. I did all the fetching and carrying, pulling in favours from friends and local businesses to get bedding, furniture, toy for the kids etc and it was heart warming to see how the local community rallied round (they are housed on relatively poor estates) despite not having a great deal themselves. And on the flipside they have settled in and feel part of the community despite still getting to grips with the language, weather etc. The problem with a big chunk of our media particularly is that it peddles false narratives which seek to divide us when we have lots in common. The enemy of a working class family shouldn't be an Afghan refugee who will probably start off delivering pizzas, cleaning, driving a cab or washing dishes in a restaurant........ Spot on PP. well put.
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Post by Rednwhitenblue on Nov 25, 2021 13:47:29 GMT
The 2016 Immigration Act was aimed specifically at illegal immigration, and in particular preventing illegal immigrants accessing public services, jobs, housing etc. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/19/contents/enactedwww.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-bill-2015-16The immigration issue at the 2019 GE was: 1. Getting Brexit done, which both main parties said they would do, which would stop freedom of movement where EU citizens can access British jobs, and 2. the Tory manifesto said they would introduce an Australian-style points-based system to control immigration. The graph in the link in your post show a sharp rise in immigration as the UK left the EU as many Europeans wanted to settle in the UK and there were a great number of British nationals returned to the UK (or did not leave) at the start of the pandemic. A high proportion of the Europeans that came to the UK just before Brexit were dependants of workers already in the UK. At the time of the referendum there were thought to be 3.5 million EU citizens in the UK. The government this year has processed over 5.5 million of the 6 million applications for settlement received. www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-june-2021/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-june-2021Clearly there was a huge rush of EU citizens settling in the UK before Brexit took place. Who can blame them? This is a great country. Incidentally, you keep posting reference to the Office For Budget Responsibility Report which gives its projection on the loss of UK GDP due to leaving the EU. Part of that loss of GDP is deemed to have already occurred due to the reduction in investment in the years after the referendum before the pandemic, which was largely due to those persons objecting to the result of the referendum and trying to reverse it. (Politicians, Lords, Speaker, former PMs, etc.) No account is included for the massive surge in investment in the UK this year post Brexit. There are other factors that will lead to loss of GDP such as difficulties exporting to the EU, and EU choosing to source from other EU sources rather than the UK - based on guestimates from opinion surveys. No account is taken for any increase in GDP due to the UK establishing better trade links with the rest of the world. But, interestingly, one of the main reasons that the OBR give for loss of GDP is loss of freedom of movement and " reduced population growth" as a result of Brexit due to less immigration from freedom of movement. To conclude, I personally am fully in favour of immigration. They've been in power 11 years, the Tories, talked tough on immigration all through that period, and continue to do so. In Q3 2010 when they came to power, annual net migration stood at 268,000, in Q1 2020 it was 313,000. Over a decade of tough talk that no doubt appeases those who love that kind of thing without ever bothering to wonder if it's anything other than hot air, and the reality is they've made not a scrap of difference. I mention this not to make a point about immigration, good or bad, but simply to illustrate why it's always a good idea to hold our leaders to account on their promises. To look through the bluff and bluster of this lot in particular. We seem to be in a strange time where to do so is not important, hearing what you want to hear matters a lot more. (With regard to the government's own analysis of the damage Brexit will do year on year for the next fifteen years, their assessment of it based on a free trade deal is £80 to £100bn every year).
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Post by thevoid on Nov 25, 2021 13:50:30 GMT
I've never said you have, but it is something that other people have alluded to so I was using the things you listed as a counterpoint. If anything, I was agreeing with you. No dramas. For what it's worth I think most people are inherently decent. The charity I volunteer with in Greater Manchester was involved in housing a couple of families (one from Syria one from Afghanistan) recently. I did all the fetching and carrying, pulling in favours from friends and local businesses to get bedding, furniture, toy for the kids etc and it was heart warming to see how the local community rallied round (they are housed on relatively poor estates) despite not having a great deal themselves. And on the flipside they have settled in and feel part of the community despite still getting to grips with the language, weather etc. The problem with a big chunk of our media particularly is that it peddles false narratives which seek to divide us when we have lots in common. The enemy of a working class family shouldn't be an Afghan refugee who will probably start off delivering pizzas, cleaning, driving a cab or washing dishes in a restaurant........ I think we're a very tolerant country by and large. Obviously with a population of- what are we now, 70m? (I've not looked properly)- you'll get some bad apples.
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Post by mrcoke on Nov 25, 2021 13:58:51 GMT
The 2016 Immigration Act was aimed specifically at illegal immigration, and in particular preventing illegal immigrants accessing public services, jobs, housing etc. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/19/contents/enactedwww.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-bill-2015-16The immigration issue at the 2019 GE was: 1. Getting Brexit done, which both main parties said they would do, which would stop freedom of movement where EU citizens can access British jobs, and 2. the Tory manifesto said they would introduce an Australian-style points-based system to control immigration. The graph in the link in your post show a sharp rise in immigration as the UK left the EU as many Europeans wanted to settle in the UK and there were a great number of British nationals returned to the UK (or did not leave) at the start of the pandemic. A high proportion of the Europeans that came to the UK just before Brexit were dependants of workers already in the UK. At the time of the referendum there were thought to be 3.5 million EU citizens in the UK. The government this year has processed over 5.5 million of the 6 million applications for settlement received. www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-june-2021/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-june-2021Clearly there was a huge rush of EU citizens settling in the UK before Brexit took place. Who can blame them? This is a great country. Incidentally, you keep posting reference to the Office For Budget Responsibility Report which gives its projection on the loss of UK GDP due to leaving the EU. Part of that loss of GDP is deemed to have already occurred due to the reduction in investment in the years after the referendum before the pandemic, which was largely due to those persons objecting to the result of the referendum and trying to reverse it. (Politicians, Lords, Speaker, former PMs, etc.) No account is included for the massive surge in investment in the UK this year post Brexit. There are other factors that will lead to loss of GDP such as difficulties exporting to the EU, and EU choosing to source from other EU sources rather than the UK - based on guestimates from opinion surveys. No account is taken for any increase in GDP due to the UK establishing better trade links with the rest of the world. But, interestingly, one of the main reasons that the OBR give for loss of GDP is loss of freedom of movement and " reduced population growth" as a result of Brexit due to less immigration from freedom of movement. To conclude, I personally am fully in favour of immigration. They've been in power 11 years, the Tories, talked tough on immigration all through that period, and continue to do so. In Q3 2010 when they came to power, annual net migration stood at 268,000, in Q1 2020 it was 313,000.Over a decade of tough talk that no doubt appeases those who love that kind of thing without ever bothering to wonder if it's anything other than hot air, and the reality is they've made not a scrap of difference. I mention this not to make a point about immigration, good or bad, but simply to illustrate why it's always a good idea to hold our leaders to account on their promises. To look through the bluff and bluster of this lot in particular. We seem to be in a strange time where to do so is not important, hearing what you want to hear matters a lot more. (With regard to the government's own analysis of the damage Brexit will do year on year for the next fifteen years, their assessment of it based on a free trade deal is £80 to £100bn every year). Just goes to show how much more attractive the UK is to immigrants, despite austerity. Most of that immigration is from the EU, which EU membership could not prevent because of freedom of movement, mainly from Eastern Europe. The rest is largely people coming to work in low paid jobs like the health service which we desperately need. I welcome immigrants, we were all immigrants once if you go back far enough.
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Post by questionable on Nov 25, 2021 14:15:21 GMT
This was inevitable not if but when.
From what I understand we pay the French millions of pounds to police the crossing points but we’re still getting records of people trying to cross and a French politician has the gonads to point the finger at us.
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Post by Huddysleftfoot on Nov 25, 2021 14:18:22 GMT
This was inevitable not if but when. From what I understand we pay the French millions of pounds to police the crossing points but we’re still getting records of people trying to cross and a French politician has the gonads to point the finger at us. As it stands we pay the French nothing.
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Post by Rednwhitenblue on Nov 25, 2021 14:20:43 GMT
They've been in power 11 years, the Tories, talked tough on immigration all through that period, and continue to do so. In Q3 2010 when they came to power, annual net migration stood at 268,000, in Q1 2020 it was 313,000.Over a decade of tough talk that no doubt appeases those who love that kind of thing without ever bothering to wonder if it's anything other than hot air, and the reality is they've made not a scrap of difference. I mention this not to make a point about immigration, good or bad, but simply to illustrate why it's always a good idea to hold our leaders to account on their promises. To look through the bluff and bluster of this lot in particular. We seem to be in a strange time where to do so is not important, hearing what you want to hear matters a lot more. (With regard to the government's own analysis of the damage Brexit will do year on year for the next fifteen years, their assessment of it based on a free trade deal is £80 to £100bn every year). Just goes to show how much more attractive the UK is to immigrants, despite austerity. Most of that immigration is from the EU, which EU membership could not prevent because of freedom of movement, mainly from Eastern Europe. The rest is largely people coming to work in low paid jobs like the health service which we desperately need. I welcome immigrants, we were all immigrants once if you go back far enough. And yet for most people controlling immigration was a massive driver behind voting to Leave the EU Five years on and the figures are higher than they were five years before the vote! Just shows what a lot of nonsense that was! Hang on, I thought massive job vacancies were a good sign? Likewise, I don't have a particular problem with immigration and agree that we're all essentially a mix of Germans/Danes/Dutch/Italians/French etc if you think about it. People say migrants are a drain on society and our infrastructure but most analyses show that they are net contributors to the economy, which suggests it's what the government then decides to do with that net contribution that is more of the problem, not necessarily the migrants themselves.
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