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The debate(s) over migration involve two clear lapses:
1. we might want to ask ourselves what makes people take such awful risks to leave their homes.... we need to be compassionate not suspicious;
2. what the evidence shows again & again is that migrants are not a drain on society, they make a positive contribution once they are here & have been allowed to get on with their lives.
To deny these two lapses either directly or by staying silent is to collude with the haters!
@ChrisMayLA6 I also think it might be useful to include net change to working age population in the stats. If net migration is half a million, and a million retire, that's misleading people into thinking there are more workers bidding for jobs when really there are fewer.
They don't report it much so I dunno if that's the case even.
Both figures are (relatively) easily available, but you are right I've never seen them reported in tandem as you suggest!
@pre @ChrisMayLA6 In semi rural areas with fewer migrants, I'm noticing a *lot* more middle aged staff working evening shifts in places like village shops, and also in the tyre and repair garage, places that traditionally provided work for young adults.
Which strongly suggests the local population is both declining and ageing and there are fewer young people around..
I am currently reading "The Truth About Immigration" by Zeke Hernandez.
@ChrisMayLA6 and the third in the UK. Almost all immigrants have arrived legally having been OKd by the government
@ChrisMayLA6 Starmer makes a conscious choice to side with the bigots and not defend immigration, this man is a coward.
He will not stand up to Trump for this nation and that is a problem that needs to be addressed. There must be real checks and balances to prevent No 10 selling the nation out.
@ChrisMayLA6 hence my belief that the Aliens Act was the single most destructive piece of legislation passed by the UK parliament to the prosperity of all UK citizens, and as it includes the whole of Ireland at that time, Ireland as well.
@ChrisMayLA6 speaking selfishly as someone who has recruited staff, given the following options I know which I would pick
An educated chap who has moved his family thousands of miles to avoid persecution, who organised that on a minimal or low budget and is willing to work in any job whilst he sorts out his professional qualifications
Dave who has a gcse in drama, and whose hobbies are "smoking" and "pub"
(No disrespect meant to anyone)
Ha ha.... if only all choices were so stark
95% of immigrants are actively recruited to the UK by British employers. So aren't taking any risk to get here. The problem is when they arrive. As one social care worker said to me, they come to Africa and bring us to Europe where we have to work for the boss who can treat us badly because they know if we lose the job we risk having to go back and that would all but destroy our lives. Europe has a tradition of going to Africa and bringing back workers to work in terrible conditions and do the jobs that no-one wants to do here, we'll not for the low pay.
It is very common for migrant workers to be told which shifts to work, they get no sick pay and no statutory sick pay, they often are not paid overtime or holiday pay, and racist abuse us a regular part of their work.
A very small number come here as refugees. Virtually all are from countries with very bad human rights records and the UK take a very small number compared to other countries. So they are not illegal and are not breaking any laws indeed the law says refugees can arrive this way.
Sorry for being pedantic but I think there is a lot of deliberate misinformation here and we need to challenge all assumptions.
yes, I agree; we do need to challenge preconceptions - my target was the character of the debate. But, happy to boost your clear depiction, which is not 'pedantic' at all but a worthwhile reminder, thanks
@iinac @ChrisMayLA6 I agree entirely.
The point I was making is that to move country you have to be resourceful, motivated and have interest in the world around you. These are all skills we need as a country.
The dehumanisation of immigrants is allowing for some of the practices and exploitation above. Too often the attitude "only an immigrant" persists and then perpetuates this cycle.
If they wanted to stop the boats, all they have to do is open safe routes.
@iinac @ChrisMayLA6 they would also need good welfare for all. However it suits the governments to perpetuate the in fighting of poor v immigrants as it stops people fighting the state for not providing what they should.
(And by poor I mean anyone in the bottom 95%)
@iinac @ChrisMayLA6 @ScotInTraining we still haven’t sorted Windrush
@ChrisMayLA6 Also: if we want to get rid of 'smuggling' gangs, then we need to stop making it 'illegal' to come here. This is not a radical or new lesson. We see it in the US prohibition, for example.
@ChrisMayLA6 perhaps we could do what the Americans are doing today and have a whole day to give thanks to the immigrants coming into the country?
I'm not sure that's how it plays out over there..... [irony klaxon]