Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

11 million immigrants since 2000. When I

789 replies

Uggbootsforever · 04/10/2025 08:40

Sorry, it’s another immigration one.

I always see immigration discussed in terms of race, religion, who may or may not be a good fit for the UK, whether it’s by small boats - to be honest, this is not the biggest worry for me.

The biggest worry is the sheer increase in our population and how many people this country can reasonably accommodate. We are now 8th in Europe for population density - only behind Belgium and the Netherlands, and a handful of places like Vatican City and the Channel Islands. At present we have net migration of around 500,000 a year.

I’m worried that the key issues of overpopulation are being overlooked to make this conversation all about race. What about our pollution levels, wildlife habitats, flood risk, food security, infrastructure? Will this eventually be a polluted city state country? It seems to be heading that way.

Posters always say we need immigration, but we have already welcome 11 million since 2000. If that still isn’t enough; what is? Or do we just keep going?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
Livelovebehappy · 04/10/2025 09:03

It needs to slow down hugely, if only to anticipate the effect AI is going to have on employmen5 within the coming years. We’re already seeing many industries affected by AI, and it makes sense that a lot of people here are going to need to retrain. Possibly taking the roles in social care which people say need filling. If we’re not careful, unemployment is going to be a major issue where we have too many people chasing too few jobs. It’s already happening. I’m seeing more and more people struggling to get work in their chosen profession because of AI and offshored work. The government need to be anticipating this very real situation, and plan ahead accordingly.

Original poster
Uggbootsforever · 04/10/2025 09:02

Theeyeballsinthesky · 04/10/2025 09:00

Deliberate rage bait title on line with this OP MO - reported

Why is it rage bait? There’s a lot of race immigration posts, this one isn’t one of them. It’s about the practical implications of immigration, not the immigrants themselves. If that’s ’rage bait’ and you feel we shouldn’t be able to discuss it, that says more about you.

OP posts:
NototerrorismIntheUK · 04/10/2025 09:02

Theeyeballsinthesky · 04/10/2025 09:00

Deliberate rage bait title on line with this OP MO - reported

Surely its a concern expressed by many. Don't you watch the news?

Free speech not allowed? Say why you think @Uggbootsforever is incorrect rather than shut down conversation.

thedramaQueen · 04/10/2025 09:02

Uggbootsforever · 04/10/2025 09:02

That’s really not the discussion we are having here

Show quote history

Yes it is

FreeTheOakTree · 04/10/2025 09:02

You seem to be awfully consumed by this subject OP.

Starting yet another thread without a credible link though?

It isn't on us to go searching to back up your claims.

Original poster
Uggbootsforever · 04/10/2025 09:02

thedramaQueen · 04/10/2025 09:01

The thing is I don't actually care about the numbers, to me it's irrelevant. What matters is the infrastructure - having doctors, schools, housing and jobs available for everyone. The fact is governments over and over have failed to make sure this happens for everyone - so people blame a what they see as a acceptable source, immigrants, rather than the governments who have screwed this up time and time again. I'm fed up of people and governments not seeing this.

That’s really not the discussion we are having here

OP posts:
thedramaQueen · 04/10/2025 09:01

The thing is I don't actually care about the numbers, to me it's irrelevant. What matters is the infrastructure - having doctors, schools, housing and jobs available for everyone. The fact is governments over and over have failed to make sure this happens for everyone - so people blame a what they see as a acceptable source, immigrants, rather than the governments who have screwed this up time and time again. I'm fed up of people and governments not seeing this.

ladybirdsanchez · 04/10/2025 09:01

YANBU and when people point out that the shortages we have in housing and in doctor's surgeries, in all kinds of infrastructure are due to huge population increase, they get accused of racism and xenophobia and basically being a jerk, but it's obvious. The reason we have a huge housing shortage is because the level of house-building we have can't keep up with the huge and relentless increase in our population since 1997.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 04/10/2025 09:00

Deliberate rage bait title on line with this OP MO - reported

Octavia64 · 04/10/2025 09:00

There are vast areas of the U.K. that are if anything underpopulated.

compare the Lake District or borders with London and the south east more generally and there is no comparison.

I’m on holiday in rural Norfolk at the moment - this area is never going to be a polluted city state.

Shedmistress · 04/10/2025 09:00

Is it worth sharing your source at all?

NototerrorismIntheUK · 04/10/2025 08:59

The thing is, 11 million people need housing, feeding, health and education services. Some will be net contributors, many will not pay enough tax to actually cover the costs in education, health, public services, care, etc. They just won't. Many people living here are also not net contributing so seems foolish to add more.

The services of education, health and care together with housing stock are not even sufficient for those here already. No more unless net contributing seems reasonable. Many countries (Australia) have levels of requirements for people who wish to emmigrate there. Why shouldn't we. If you bring parents, grandparents, they you should be able to pay for them, not expect the state to pick up.

Also more social integration. Our laws apply here. No calls for globalisation of hatred or extreme practices. We must stamp down hard on radicals who wish to cause harm to this society and turn it into one like many have apparently wanted to leave.

Florencesndzebedee · 04/10/2025 08:59

Misinformation. The onus is on you as the thread starter to back up your claims.

BallerinaRadio · 04/10/2025 08:58

Uggbootsforever · 04/10/2025 08:56

Why aren’t you just engaging with the debate rather than back searching and trying to derail? Am I wrong about something?

This is the part of the immigration debate which nobody mentions. I think it’s worth mentioning.

Show quote history

They don't mention it because as far as I'm aware it's total bollocks

ilovesooty · 04/10/2025 08:57

Uggbootsforever · 04/10/2025 08:56

Why aren’t you just engaging with the debate rather than back searching and trying to derail? Am I wrong about something?

This is the part of the immigration debate which nobody mentions. I think it’s worth mentioning.

Show quote history

I didn't have to search.

BallerinaRadio · 04/10/2025 08:57

Uggbootsforever · 04/10/2025 08:56

Why aren’t you just engaging with the debate rather than back searching and trying to derail? Am I wrong about something?

This is the part of the immigration debate which nobody mentions. I think it’s worth mentioning.

Show quote history

I am engaging.

I'm trying to get you to show me your evidence before I report the post

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 04/10/2025 08:57

Canle1905 · 04/10/2025 08:50

Do you have any option on the home countries of these immigrants. Recently I am hearing of more people coming here from SA, USA and Australia. In all cases they are coming here for health care reasons. They often are one UK citizen who moved abroad more than 30 years ago but now have an ailing spouse and want access to NHS. In some cases adult children who have UK passports but have never contributed to this country are coming with their parent. I honestly have no idea what these people can access once here and would like to know. However in all situations their biggest financial concern is how to avoid paying tax on assets or pensions.

Why would anyone from Australia go too the UK for healthcare? I've lived in both countries, healthcare in Oz is better.

Original poster
Uggbootsforever · 04/10/2025 08:56

ilovesooty · 04/10/2025 08:53

Why did you begin your post with "sorry"?

Why aren’t you just engaging with the debate rather than back searching and trying to derail? Am I wrong about something?

This is the part of the immigration debate which nobody mentions. I think it’s worth mentioning.

OP posts:
TeenagersAngst · 04/10/2025 08:56

BallerinaRadio · 04/10/2025 08:51

Thanks TeenagersAngstGPT

Show quote history

That made me laugh. I do use ChatGPT but I can promise you I absolutely did not for that post.

I will take it as a compliment.

BallerinaRadio · 04/10/2025 08:54

ilovesooty · 04/10/2025 08:53

Why did you begin your post with "sorry"?

She's not sorry I've just clocked her username she's very vocal on the subject of immigration

ilovesooty · 04/10/2025 08:53

Why did you begin your post with "sorry"?

BallerinaRadio · 04/10/2025 08:53

Uggbootsforever · 04/10/2025 08:52

You’re welcome to look it up yourself, and provide a different source and number, but this is what ONS says.

Show quote history

The ONS says 11 million immigrants have entered the UK since 2000?

You're the one publicly claiming this as fact can you show your source or some evidence?

Original poster
Uggbootsforever · 04/10/2025 08:53

YellowTigerTail · 04/10/2025 08:51

My view is that we have an aging population, and over the coming decades, immigration is the only way we will be able to get enough young people into the country to do all the jobs required to support the economy and keep the pensions going for the huge numbers of OAPs.

Also in terms of population density, the vast vast majority of this country is countryside and not built up. It's hard to believe when you are in a big city. I believe there a a few new towns being built here and there and I imagine that will continue

Edited

Did you know each person requires 1 acre to sustain their diet, and we now have more people than acres? So if we couldn’t import food tomorrow, we would probably starve (or a lot of us would). Importing food is disastrous for the environment, and ‘seeing plenty of green from an aeroplane’ is wildly different from having enough land to actually sustain a population.

OP posts:
Original poster
Uggbootsforever · 04/10/2025 08:52

BallerinaRadio · 04/10/2025 08:50

And you think that whole 11 million is immigrants? I think you've had a bit of a mare here and should probably delete this post

Show quote history

You’re welcome to look it up yourself, and provide a different source and number, but this is what ONS says.

OP posts:
YellowTigerTail · 04/10/2025 08:51

My view is that we have an aging population, and over the coming decades, immigration is the only way we will be able to get enough young people into the country to do all the jobs required to support the economy and keep the pensions going for the huge numbers of OAPs.

Also in terms of population density, the vast vast majority of this country is countryside and not built up. It's hard to believe when you are in a big city. I believe there a a few new towns being built here and there and I imagine that will continue

Swipe left for the next trending thread