Immigrants but legal ones?

Good, that's the goal: British people (in fact, all Europeans) have consistently backed lower immigration for decades. Less takers is a win.

The way some people behave towards others just because they have a darker skin colour is disgusting. But they go abroad and want brown skin and get takeaways from Indians Chinese Turkish Greek and Italian businesses. I know white European immigrants nobody treats them with disdain.

I also know a family of Asylum Seekers from Myanmar formerly Burma. There isn’t much in the media about the country. Some assume it’s a safe country. But there has been an ongoing civil war there for years. they have put up with so much abuse and rascist graffiti on their accommodation. They are desperately trying to integrate. The husband and daughter are fluent in English. The wife knows basic English but she’s learning. They can’t work but are desperate to. They all volunteer in the community even the teenage daughter.

Strictly speaking British nationality is not a right. ILR is. In law, nobody has a strict right to obtain a British passport,

Most of these laws could change tomorrow with a motivated government. If there was no ECHR then getting any status in the UK would be just on what the government decided. Legally I would say not having a British passport is to live on sand.

All things are open and liberal until they are not. The UK has just had a liberal policy for 30 plus years. That looks to be ending whatever government we have. Reform will remove laws relating to equalities and discrimination which would take us back to around the mid 1990s. No one should think this stuff is forever unless you vote for parties that say they will keep it.

I’m so sorry you have this experience. It is not acceptable. all countries round the work have people of different nationalities, religions, cultures and experiences and that is what makes the world a better more rounded place but sadly creates divides. I am from north of the border and encountered bigotry due to religion and as an adult I love to travel to see different perspectives and welcome the diversity in the uk. I celebrated Hindu celebrations this week in the uk and enjoyed it. I wish you all well.

Do you have any idea how stupidly expensive it is?

You're stuck in the neoliberal western "country as economic zone" post-national view, which is now failing and falling into chaos everywhere

Paying tax in a country is the bare minimum of contributing btw. Its nothing to write home about in terms of positive impact

I used the term "cringingly grateful" btw. It's interesting how poor reading comprehension here is.

I am not going to tug my forelock and self-flagellate over taking a job away from a British person. Nope. I am grateful in a sense, but the opinions expressed on this thread make me not want to go out of my way to kiss the ring, so to speak.

Xenophobia always spikes when people feel under pressure. In this case from inflation, crumbling services and really high housing costs. Then you've got bloody Farage and social media whipping up a sense of helplessness by implying we have no control over our own borders and the whole of Africa is about to move here to live off state benefits (that last bit is sarcasm).

For those who are here, contributing to the UK; thank you. I am sorry you are experiencing this, especially as it's more about our homegrown problems than anything you’ve done. We would be up a certain creek without a paddle, without you.

In the long run, I do think we need a commonsense and compassionate reform of the UN Refugee Act. It was created in the aftermath of World War II and the drafters never envisaged a situation where people would die in deserts and drown in the Mediterranean to find a new place to live. Instead, we need to financially and practically support refuge cities close to conflict which people can easily get to, and return from, once the conflict is over. It stops the host countries from being overwhelmed (Lebanon and Turkey comes to mind), kills the people smuggling routes, stops the impression that refugees are gaming the system, and gives women, children and people with disabilities a chance at a safer life. It also stops the conflict country from bring hollowed out. Couple that with decent visa routes that allow ambitious people who want to move here, the chance to do so with dignity and fairness. The UK should be proud of the people who chose to make their home here.

Xenophobia always spikes when people feel under pressure. In this case from inflation, crumbling services and really high housing costs. Then you've got bloody Farage and social media whipping up a sense of helplessness by implying we have no control over our own borders and the whole of Africa is about to move here to live off state benefits (that last bit is sarcasm).

For those who are here, contributing to the UK; thank you. I am sorry you are experiencing this, especially as it's more about our homegrown problems than anything you’ve done. We would be up a certain creek without a paddle, without you.

In the long run, I do think we need a commonsense and compassionate reform of the UN Refugee Act. It was created in the aftermath of World War II and the drafters never envisaged a situation where people would die in deserts and drown in the Mediterranean to find a new place to live. Instead, we need to financially and practically support refuge cities close to conflict which people can easily get to, and return from, once the conflict is over. It stops the host countries from being overwhelmed (Lebanon and Turkey comes to mind), kills the people smuggling routes, stops the impression that refugees are gaming the system, and gives women, children and people with disabilities a chance at a safer life. It also stops the conflict country from bring hollowed out. Couple that with decent visa routes that allow ambitious people who want to move here, the chance to do so with dignity and fairness. The UK should be proud of the people who chose to make their home here.

That's good. As long as it isn't just financial contribution. Thanks. I totally missed that citizenship update

Its not just ancestors is it, UK is still aiding genocides in other countries and then shock, you get waves of refugees and aslym seekers mainly from the same countries your gov has bombed.

Also what would even be the basis of a UAE economy? We’ve exploited our property boom. We don’t have natural resources to exploit as they do. You can’t just make a similar economy by saying no tax oh dear we don’t actually have anything for you all to do 😭

Ok. Whatever you say.

@RedMaker On being grateful:

I encounter this attitude A LOT with other immigrants. Of all types of nationalities and races.

It's bizarre to me. I am incredibly grateful and lucky to have been able to move to the UK. I know so many people who would love to come here and leave SA but can't, including close relatives. A lot of immigrants just don't appreciate how lucky they are.

And yet you're seeking to remain as long as you can - evidently, you need us and/or aren't wanted elsewhere.

The only problem is that the government hasn't addressed people's concerns for decades. But that's now coming to a head and reaching the stage of collapse. I suspect it's going to be a problem for you too, come the next election.

This country isn't Netflix. It's not a subscription service where you become British or are entitled for you and your descendants to be here simply because you've paid tax. Paying tax is the minimum to be permitted to be here for an extended period of time.

Legal immigration is a problem when it occurs on such a scale that it makes the indigenous population a minority in areas of their own country.

But that's never held anywhere, and results in fracture. Which is what we're seeing the start of in the UK.

So what is it then? Immigration is a wonderful thing affording us a vibrancy we lacked otherwise, or revenge?

Agree on the accent - but it can feel easily othering for someone who wasn't born in the UK. Especially now.

OP is talking about legal immigrants, so I am unsure why people are talking about asylum seekers.

@RedMaker Japan has a huge issue with a decling and aging population and economic stagnation.

Now they have embraced automation a lot more than we have. And that is an interesting thing. There is probably an overlap here between peple who dislike immigration and dislike increased automation such as self service stores, more chatbots etc.. In an ageing country if you don't want immigration you need increased automation.

OP's children were born here.

Which religions/believers are acceptable to you? Just White Anglo Saxon Protestants? What about Catholics? Jews? Obviously not any of the religions followed by brown people.

What jobs are meant for Brits? I've never seen a job advertisement saying Brits only.

OP's legality is very relevant. Given her higher level scientific qualifications I would imagine that she is probably a net contributor to the UK.

These threads really bring all the bigots out of the woodwork.

Many of the ‘illegal’ immigrants here come from countries which were previously colonised by the British. We are reaping what we sowed.

The white paper proposed by Starmer suggests contributions and is making citizenship harder.

Thank you. @PandoraSocks has proved my point totally.

Which bit is racist Pandora? Is our Border Force chief reporting that contrary to popular belief, quite a few ‘asylum seekers’ are happy to pop home for Christmas, racist? Is our government racist for admitting there a problem with small boats? Are the women and children raped or murdered by ‘asylum seekers’ while residing in the hotels racist? Do elaborate please.

And what do you think right of abode British-Irish means? Reading a little more might he.p you decipher that.